Orientation week is renowned for its wild parties, but for mature students, this may not appeal. There is no denying the importance of establishing friendships in the first week, as this helps provide a support network for the duration of the course. Research has shown that students with strong relationships are more likely to be academically successful. But what can older students do as an alternative to bars and nightclubs?

Cocktail and casino night

This is one for mature students who prefer a classy night in rather than a claustrophobic club atmosphere. Hosting a casino night is a great 'upmarket' way to meet people, and it provides a great excuse to dress up in your fanciest outfit. Events like these are a little different to your usual house party and provides an opportunity for everyone to enjoy some competitive fun together.

The popularity of gambling and casinos in Canada can be seen through the high number of platforms available. There is such high demand that there are now specialist sites to help players find the best place to play. From classic tabletop games like poker and roulette to innovative slots that take inspiration from themes in popular culture and throughout history.

The games can even assist in preparation for your casino night - will you be drawn in by the classic Vegas lights of Jackpot Village or the more sophisticated Grecian vibes as in Casino of the Gods? You could also be inspired as to which activities your guests might like to play (and the ones you can beat them at). Accompany the casino games with some cocktails, music and sophisticated decor and everybody in attendance will have a ball.

Book or film clubs

Depending on where you are attending college, there may already be some existing book or film clubs you can join. If you can't find one, it wouldn't be too difficult to start your own. For example, the actress, Emma Watson, started her own book club when she attended Brown University to study English literature. The Book Ravens at Carleton University and the Brock University Film Society are extremely popular groups founded by students that welcome an impressive number of new members with each passing year.

You could even put posters up around the college campus, advertise on social media or just get chatting to a few classmates. Clubs like this generally meet up on a weekly basis at a local café or social venue so you can easily work around tricky schedules.

Local art classes

Another enjoyable way to socialize is to attend art classes or painting sessions. Art is an extremely popular option for mature Canadian students, with around 400,000 nationals over the age of 25 having completed post-secondary studies in visual and performing arts. Helpfully, this means that it isn't hard to find relevant groups who socialize outside of their studies.

For example, the group organized by the OCAD University Alumni Association offers a life drawing event every Wednesday throughout fall, which sets artists back a mere $10. There is a professional model in attendance each week, and it provides a good opportunity to refine observational skills. With this comes the chance to meet other artists, and it is a great way to form lasting friendships.

Of course, there are many other ways for mature students to get to know people at their universities, it's just a case of finding the activity that's right for you. The most important thing is to get out there and enjoy your life at university.