Monday, September 15

Library speed friending

By University of Portsmouth

Meet new people at a quiet and gentle social event designed to help you get chatting, get to know new people and settle into uni life

Date and time

Location

The Library Cafe

University Library Cambridge Road Portsmouth PO1 2ST United Kingdom

Good to know

Highlights

2 hours
In person

About this event

Library speed friending - a gentle way to meet new people and make friends in a quiet, safe environment

Meet new people at a quiet and gentle social event designed to help you get chatting, get to know new people and settle into uni life. New to campus? Looking for meaningful connections in a calm, welcoming space?

Join us at the Library speed friending event — a relaxed, library-themed social gathering designed especially for international students and those who appreciate a gentle, neurodiverse-inclusive environment.

What you can expect:

Meet other students looking to make new friends
Low-pressure, one-on-one conversations
Conversation prompts to make connecting easier
No loud music, no overwhelming crowds — just calm, genuine connection

Whether you’re shy, sensitive to sensory input, or just prefer meaningful chats over small talk, you’ll find friendly faces and kind conversations here.

Frequently asked questions

Can I arrive early?

Yes, the Library Café will be open all day, and if you prefer to arrive early, that is absolutely fine. You will see Library staff arrive to set up the event shortly before 1 pm.

Is the Library an accessible venue?

Yes, we have designed the Library to be as accessible as possible, although we would love to hear any suggestions on how we can improve. You can find information about Library accessibility on AccessAble: https://www.accessable.co.uk/university-of-portsmouth/access-guides/university-library

Will it really go on for two hours?

This is the first time we have run an event like this, so we are going to start it off and keep going until everyone has had enough or needs to leave to go somewhere else. There's no pressure to stay until the end :)

Organized by

University of Portsmouth

We’re a new breed of university and proud to be a breath of fresh air in the academic world – a place where everyone gets the support they need to achieve their best. For all University of Portsmouth events, visit our website.