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Find your place at Carolina

Heel Life

At Carolina, we think the best education includes finding ways to explore your passions, getting involved in activities and developing your talents.

With nearly 800 student organizations, you will find many ways to explore your personal and intellectual interests and embrace your passions for music, the performing arts, computer programming, the environment, creative writing, student government, politics, international cultures and more.

You won't have to look too far to find a student group that matches your interests.

Get in touch with your creative side

Interested in the arts? There’s a student group waiting for you. Carolina is home to clubs that focus on everything from music to dance to comedy to theater.

In particular, Carolina boasts nearly a dozen a cappella groups with styles ranging from R&B and pop hits to religious and Asian fusion. Groups have become a staple of Carolina traditions with performances at Convocation, Sunset Serenade and Commencement.

A student group sings outside.

Give back to the community

Tar Heels give back, and Heel Life hosts a plethora of organizations that are focused on helping students find ways to make a positive difference in their communities and world.

Just to give you a few ideas of how our groups are making a difference: Carolina For The Kids has raised more than $5 million for the UNC Children’s Hospital through its annual Dance Marathon. Music Empowerment provides free music classes to young community members. The Carolina Beekeeping Club cares for beehives that pollinate our entire community, including our Edible Campuses that help feed not just hungry Tar Heels, but community members.

A man works in a garden.

Stay active

Carolina varsity athletes aren’t the only ones competing in Chapel Hill.

Thousands of Tar Heels find plenty of ways to stay active through student groups, Campus Recreation’s Sport Clubs and intramural sports. With a variety of teams, ranging from quidditch to tennis to wallyball to flag football, it’s easy to find a sport that is a good fit for you.

Find your niche

Explore more campus life
  • A student plays a video game on a computer.

    Press play on esports

    From casual gaming to competitive tournaments, Carolina's esports club is the place for all things gaming. Check out what the group has to offer at the University's gaming arena in Craige Residence Hall.

  • Victoria Sagasta Pereira and Peter Close play chess outside.

    Checkmate: The rise of Carolina Chess

    While chess can be intimidating, especially for those just learning the rules, the Carolina Chess Club is a beginner-friendly club with in-person and virtual gatherings.

  • headphones sitting a desk.

    Take the air with WXYC

    Housed out of the Carolina Union, WXYC is the University's student-run, freeform radio station. Its broadcast encompasses approximately 900 square miles in and around Chapel Hill, Durham, Pittsboro, Apex and parts of Raleigh.

  • Members of the Bridge pose for a photo outside.

    Fostering collaboration, building community with The Bridge

    Established in 2016 by three students — two from Duke and one from Carolina — The Bridge is a digital publication that aims to provide an uplifting online space for women and non-binary people of color.