50+ Statistics on the Impact of Student Societies (2024)

At Huzzle, we’re committed to understanding how student societies impact the careers of students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. To achieve this, we conducted an in-depth study surveying 426 university students across the UK and Ireland. Our findings reveal crucial insights into how student societies foster diversity, develop essential skills, and influence career paths. These statistics, derived from our research, highlight the powerful role societies play in shaping the future workforce.

1. Student Society Membership is High Among Diverse Groups

1. 77% of students from underrepresented backgrounds are involved in at least one student society.
2. 80% of non-binary students are active in student societies.
3. 74% of students from low socio-economic backgrounds are part of at least one society.
4. 54% of women participate in student societies.
5. 50% of students in student societies identify as female.
6. 37% of society members come from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
7. 12% of society members report having a physical or cognitive disability.

Why It Matters: Our research shows that student societies are inclusive spaces where diverse talent thrives, making them essential for fostering diversity on campus.

2. Career-Focused Societies Are a Magnet for Diverse Talent

8. 54% of women are members of career societies.
9. 51% of non-white students participate in career societies.
10. 53% of students from low socio-economic backgrounds are involved in career-focused societies.
11. 52% of women in societies are part of career-focused groups.
12. 50% of non-white students in societies are members of career-focused groups.
13. 23% of non-white students in societies are part of cultural societies.
14. 18% of students from low socio-economic backgrounds join cultural societies.
15. 12% of low socio-economic background students are involved in sport societies.
16. 13% of society members are part of multiple societies.

Why It Matters: Career societies are not only popular but also highly effective at attracting a diverse range of students, making them prime targets for employers looking to connect with emerging talent.

3. Skill Development Through Societies Is Significant

17. 78% of students say being part of a society has helped them gain career-relevant experience and insights.
18. 73% of students report that their soft skills improved due to society participation.
19. 44% of students strongly agree that their society helped them gain career experience.
20. 42% of students strongly agree that their society participation helped develop their soft skills.
21. 56% of students believe their societies are inclusive of all students.
22. 79% of students agree that their society is inclusive, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds.
23. 77% of women reported that their society helped develop their soft skills.
24. 78% of non-white students reported gaining soft skills from society involvement.
25. 74% of students from low socio-economic backgrounds gained soft skills through societies.

Why It Matters: Our findings highlight that student societies are crucial in bridging the gap between academic knowledge and real-world skills, preparing students for successful careers.

4. Societies Play a Pivotal Role in Career Decision-Making

26. 56% of students believe their society involvement has directly influenced their career paths.
27. 31% of students strongly agree that society involvement helped with their career path.
28. 14.5% of students say society participation had no impact on their career paths.
29. 26% of students confirm their career choice through participation in society activities.
30. 20% of students explore different career paths through society involvement.
31. 24% of society members engage with employers often or very often.
32. 31% of students in sport societies frequently engage with employers.
33. 31% of students in interest societies frequently engage with employers.
34. 23% of cultural society members report frequent employer engagement.

Why It Matters: Societies provide a practical environment for students to explore and solidify their career ambitions, making them a key component of career development.

5. Barriers to Joining Societies Are Still a Problem

35. 39% of students don’t join societies due to time constraints.
36. 13% of students cite the cost of joining as a barrier.
37. 3x more students from low socio-economic backgrounds avoid societies due to cost.
38. 88% of non-white students are more likely to avoid societies due to cost.
39. 50% of female students are more likely than males to avoid societies due to cost.
40. 28% of students don’t join societies because they identify as introverts.
41. 88% of respondents from low socio-economic backgrounds say the cost is a significant barrier.

Why It Matters: Reducing these barriers is essential for ensuring that all students can benefit from the opportunities societies offer.

6. Employer Engagement with Societies Is Underutilized

42. Only 38% of students engage with employers through their societies on a frequent basis.
43. 32% of society members report occasional engagement with employers.
44. 19% of students often engage with employers through society events.
45. 18% of society members have never engaged with an employer through their society.
46. 56% of students in cultural societies have never engaged with an employer.
47. 57% of students from non-career societies say they rarely engage with employers.
48. 24% of respondents report frequent employer engagement in career societies.
49. 31% of students in sport societies engage with employers often.

Why It Matters: There’s a significant opportunity for employers to deepen their engagement with student societies, especially career-focused ones, to access diverse talent early.

7. Opportunities for Growth and Action

50. 39% of students aren’t a part of societies because they don’t know which ones to join.
51. 12% say it costs too much to join a society.
52. 35% of students don’t know how to join a society.
53. 28% say they don’t see the value in societies.

Why It Matters: Addressing these challenges can lead to higher participation and more opportunities for students to benefit from society involvement.

The Bottom Line

Student societies are more than just social clubs—they’re powerful engines for personal and professional development. The statistics, derived from our comprehensive research, speak for themselves: societies are rich in diverse talent, critical for skill development, and play a vital role in shaping students' career paths. However, there’s still work to be done to make these opportunities accessible to all students and to enhance collaboration between societies and employers.

Want to read the full research paper? You can check it out here.