Joining a sport or a social club is a great way to enhance your university experience and meet new friends. If you aren’t already thinking about joining one yet, read on for plenty of reasons why you should!

Your physical and mental wellbeing

Whether you’re studying closer to home or moving away for the first time, keeping up with an exercising routine can be tough when you start university. Staying active is not only great for your physical health but also for your mental well-being. Joining a social club or sports team can help you stay fit and focused while balancing your studies and assignments. University life can sometimes feel overwhelming but taking time to engage in activities you enjoy can give your mind a much-needed break. At MDX Dubai, we offer 30+ sports teams and social clubs, and you’re welcome to join as many as you like!

Polish your skills and increase your career prospects

University is the best time to explore new interests, learn new skills, or join a club that interests you. Practicing a new skill or playing sports not only boosts concentration and brainpower but also helps you develop great teamwork skills. Plus, it can boost your career prospects. Employers often seek candidates with key skills like time management and leadership. So, showcasing your involvement in extracurricular activities on your resume can help you stand out from the rest.

Make friends with people you might not have met otherwise

Joining a sport gives you the opportunity to connect with new faces, whether you're playing alongside them or competing against them. Over time, these interactions can lead to some of your closest friendships. At universities like Middlesex University Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities to build these connections through participation in various sports teams that compete with other top universities in the UAE, as well as at inter-sports fests.

Social clubs for every interest

At MDX Dubai, we’ve got 17 Social Clubs including the Music Club, Art & Design Club, Anime & K-Pop Club, Culinary Club and Gaming Club to name a few. Students can join as many social clubs as they like, whenever they like and there’s no deadline to sign up. Club meetings are held every month, and all students are free to participate in events.

This year, we’ve launched some exciting new clubs! If you’re up for a challenge, join the Chess Club, where tournaments run all year long. For all the science and tech fans, the STEM Club explores science, technology, engineering, and math with hands-on projects and experiments, giving you the chance to collaborate and develop new skills.

The MDX Dubai Student Volunteering Programme offers a fantastic way for students to gain valuable experience and develop essential soft skills beyond the classroom. By completing over 80 volunteer hours in one academic year, you’ll be eligible for a special recognition certificate and an invitation to our awards night! This programme will also provide a great chance to network and build work experience. Our year wraps up with Youth Fest, the biggest annual celebration on campus, featuring over 25 categories for students to showcase their talents in sports and cultural activities.

Discover your sport at MDX Dubai

Team Middlesex represents at a variety of competitions, whether it's sports, games, or other exciting challenges at inter-university or open tournaments. Try-outs for our competitive teams are happening soon after the Week of Welcome! This is a great opportunity to see what our sports clubs have to offer and to show off your skills. If you’re selected, you’ll be part of our official university teams competing in tournaments and other events. But even if you’re not selected, everyone’s welcome to join in on the training sessions to keep fit and have fun! We've also introduced padel this year, a rapidly growing racquet sport that blends the best of tennis and squash. Students can look forward to a weekly training schedule led by professional coaches, with all equipment provided for the game.

And if you’re after something more relaxing, our yoga sessions are open to all, no try outs needed! You can stay updated with the latest news from the MDX Dubai Sports & Fitness Department on @wearemdxsports.

Beyond clubs and sports, we’ve got an exciting line up of events for the new term, from treasure hunts and Halloween movie screenings to celebrations of international days throughout the year. You can stay updated with all the latest happenings by following us on Instagram @middlesexdubai.

Information for International Students