New to Uni?
Starting Uni Well
Make Contact Before O-Week
Starting uni can be exciting — and a bit overwhelming. New people, new routines, new questions about who you are and what matters. If you’re exploring faith, or just curious about Christianity, you’re not alone.
At UQ Evangelical Students, we’re a group of students who meet to explore life and faith together. You don’t need to have it all figured out, and there’s no pressure to pretend you do.
Get Known as a Christian
The best tip ever: get known as a Christian from early on.
Letting your uni friends know that you are a Christian early on is much easier than summoning up the courage to tell people later on. You can do this as you introduce friends: “We met at church”, or “we met at the Christian uni group.” Getting known as a Christian can feel hard, but it is simple, and it starts your journey as an active believer at uni.
uni-level exploration
unconditional community
unmissable presence
Find a Church
If you’re a Christian who’s moved to study, you’ll be looking for a new church. We recommend asking your home church’s minister or pastor for recommendations.
If you don’t know where to start, or have never been to church before, why not come to UQES and then visit another student’s church? That way, you can go with someone you know, and they’ll introduce you to others 🙂
You’re at uni for more than a degree
What if uni isn’t just about your degree, but discovering something bigger? Your plans, your future – they’re not meant to be detached from the one who made you.
Joining UQES is like finding solid ground. We’ll help you lift your eyes up from uni’s daily hustle to see Jesus, the one who gives meaning to it all.
Get Connected
I’m an international student — is this for me?
Moving to Australia for university? Welcome! Changing countries can be an isolating experience, but it doesn’t have to be. Our UQ FOCUS group is a great place if you’re interested in exploring Christianity or want a Christian community to hang out with.
We’re here to connect you with Christians on campus, encourage and grow you in your faith, and help you to share Jesus’ message of hope with your peers on campus.
Learn MoreCommon Questions
Yes! UQ Evangelical Students is affiliated with the UQ Student Union as an official student group.
You’re very welcome to come – regardless of your experience of church (or if you have no experience of church!). UQ Evangelical Students is a place to make friends and discover more about Jesus.
Our group is part of AFES: the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students. AFES is a national community of students discovering Jesus together. All AFES groups across Australia stand on the same biblical foundations, seeking to proclaim Jesus faithfully on every campus. Being part of this wider community means we’re connected to other campus groups, supported by experienced staff, and able to be part of something bigger than ourselves.
That’s okay! We understand the pressures on uni students – exams, assignments, work, and more – but making time to invest in your faith is also important. We run many events each week, on different days and times – some in the day, some in the evening. Hopefully, your timetable works out with ours!
There are also opportunities to connect outside of semesters, at our various conferences. If you can’t make weekly events, we’d still love to meet you at these!
Great question. We know there’s been an increase in cult activity on university campuses. At UQ Evangelical Students, it’s never acceptable to manipulate or coerce people. Everyone is free to visit, and free to leave. We strive for transparency: we openly name our beliefs, affiliations and leaders, and are affiliated with the UQ Student Union. Our doctrinal basis is standard Christian belief, used throughout Australia, and has been adopted or adapted by many other Christian groups.