At LSESU we pride ourselves on having a diverse range of student-led clubs and societies.
To ensure we can continue to have a positive impact on the student experience as things change and develop, we support students who identify gaps in our range to set up, to create and deliver new student groups.
This page will take you through everything you need to consider if you have an idea for a new group, as well as the steps you need to take to get it created.
Why Start a New club/ society?
This is your chance to build a community within LSE that will give your members opprtunities to form memories, friendships and skills to last a lifetime.
You'll get dedicated support from the Students Union, a society bank account, access to funding, free room bookings on campus, invites to bespoke training sessions, and so much more.
Plus, you'll develop a wealth of transferrable skills and experiences that employers will look favourably on.
There are two different types of groups you can set up:
- Sports Club – a physical activity with the potential to compete or a recognised sport by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
- Society – any other interest group or activity you may want to set up
At LSESU, student activists can also sent up a campaign group. There are specific steps to do this which you can find outlined on the campaigns hub. If you are not sure whether your idea is a campaign or society, check in with us for support.
APPLICATION windows for 2025/26.
Autumn Term: Friday 12th September 2025 - Sunday 12th October 2025
Winter Term: Monday 8th December 2025 - Sunday 11th January 2026
Spring Term: Monday 13th April 2026 - Sunday 17th May 2026
The link to the application form will be shown here during these dates.
bringing your idea to life
The three key things to consider when submitting an application:
- Does it adhere to the 'New LSESU Club/ Society Criteria'?
- Have you got enough people (3) to form the founding core committee?
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Is there proven interest from LSE students in this society?
You'll be required to demonstrate these on your application form.
Here are some other key questions to ask yourself to help develop your idea:
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Is there proven interest from LSE students in this society?
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Have you got enough people (3) to form the founding core committee?
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What regular activity will you offer to your members? Coffee chats, training, speaker events, day trips, rehearsals, debates?
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How much will all of these ideas cost, and how might these costs be mitigated through membership prices, ticketing events, sponsorships and applying for funding?
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What spaces or equipment will you need to do these activities? Will LSE classrooms be enough, or might you need to hire external facilities?
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Does your group idea have the potential for long-term engagement and relevance? I.e. is it likely to last longer than one academic year when a new committee takes over?
If you're thinking of starting a new faith group, please see the LSE policy for engagement with external religious organisations here, and ensure your proposed activity complies.
The application process
Once your idea is fully formed, it's time to tell us all about it!
The application process itself is quite straightforward. All you need to do it complete the application form (will become available during application windows), and attach a completed constitution for your society. Blank constitution templates can be found here.
Top Tip: We'd recommend writing answers to the application questions on a separate document and then copying them over once it's time to submit. This means you won't lose your answers if there are any tech issues!
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Once applications close, the panel will assess all applications. You'll then be informed via email of the outcome of your application within 1 week of applications closing.
If approved, there will then be a 1-month period where the SU will support you in getting set-up. This will involve a couple of short admin tasks, completion of some Moodle Modules, and attendance at an in-person training event.
Once this is all complete, you'll then be ready to start recruiting members and begin your activity!
FAQs
Can I apply outside of the application window?
Unfortunately not. We have quite a tight timeline for our onboarding, training and administrative set-ups, so are unfortunately unable to accept applications outside of the designated windows.
What are the timelines for applications and panels?
Each term, applications will open for one month. Dates of these can be found above. Once applications close, the panel will assess all applications. You'll then be informed of the outcome of your application within 1 week of applications closing. Taking into account all required onboarding steps, newly approved groups are usually ready to begin activity about 1 month after the initial decision is communicated.
How can we recruit people to show interest?
You can try asking others on your course and you can reach out to other similar societies and ask them to promote your idea. Also, if you're in any social media or WhatsApp groups that allow this sort of thing, you can put the word out there!.
Will I get any funding if my group is approved?
Yes, you'll get a £100 start-up grant from the SU, to help get your new group up and running. You'll also be eligible to apply for an extra £3000 per year from the Students Union Fund
What training will I receive within my new committee role?
You will be automatically enrolled onto our Moodle Modules. You can complete these in your own time, and they'll give you all the key knowledge required for your role. There will also be a compulsory in-person training session for all new committee members. This is 1 hour long, and covers essential information and advice for those new to running a Club or Society. Throughout the year, you'll also be invited to our various training and development opportunities, notably the Student Leaders Conference in June, and one-off sessions run by LSE Departments.
If approved, can the SU help us with promoting our new group?
Yes! We have lots of different ways to help promote your new group. We can share information on our Instagram, organise a stall for you on Sheffield Street, give you a shoutout in our weekly Clubs and Societies Newsletter, and show you dedicated poster display areas in the SU. You'll also automatically get a stall at the Welcome Fair in September.
What happens if my group idea gets rejected?
Unfortunately, not all groups will meet the required criteria, and the panel will have to reject those applications. Following a rejection, you will receive detailed feedback from the panel via email, about why the application was unsuccessful. They will also provide recommendations. This could be changes to make to your application should you wish to resubmit next cycle, or encourage you to link-up with an already existing society. Unfortunately we're unable to reconsider unsuccessful applications due to the volume of applications received, and the timeline for onboarding and training.
Can students from other unis join LSESU Clubs/ Societies?
Currently, only LSE students can join LSESU Societies as members. However, you're welcome to open up your events to students from other universities! Just let us know when you submit your event form.
How can I restart a Club/ Society that has existed previously but is currently dormant?
The process is the same as if you were starting a new group from scratch. However, if the society you're restarting has operated within the last 2 years, you'll inherit the old society's bank account, funds and email account.
Who can I talk to for advice on starting a new society?
The SU Team are here to help! If you are thinking of setting up a Society, you can book a drop-in via Student Hub, or email us at su.societies@lse.ac.uk. If you're thinking of setting up a Sports Club, you can email su.sport@lse.ac.uk. We'd also recommend reaching out to similar societies, both at LSE and other London universities, to hear about their advice, experience and top tips.