New to Uni?

Christian Union is a friendly place to explore faith and meet people

Starting Fresh…

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 ECU Christian Union, 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.

What to expect

Here’s what usually happens when you come along to something CU-related:

  • You’ll be greeted by friendly students (we remember what it’s like to be new!)
  • There’s time to chat, hang out, and get to know people
  • We might read a part of the Bible or hear a talk
  • You can listen, ask questions, or just observe — that’s completely fine

You won’t be put on the spot, asked to pray, or expected to sign up for anything. Many people come once or twice just to see what it’s like.

unshakeable truth

uni-level exploration

unconditional community

unmissable presence

DO I need to be a Christian?

No.
Some students are Christians, some are curious, some are unsure. CU is a place where questions are taken seriously and explored honestly.

If you are a Christian, CU can be a great place to grow and be encouraged at uni. If you’re not, you’re welcome to come and explore at your own pace.

Get Connected

I’m an international student — is this for me?

Yes! Uni can feel especially unfamiliar if you’re new to Australia. We welcome international students at our meetings.

CU is a welcoming place to meet people, make friends, and explore Christianity alongside others. We aim to create spaces where you can feel at home and get connected at uni.

What’s the next step?

If you’d like to:

  • meet some people
  • come to an event
  • ask a question
  • or just find out what’s on

the best next step is to get connected.

You can share your details and someone will get in touch — or simply come along to an event when it suits you.

Get Connected

Common Questions

Yes! ECU Christian Union is affiliated with the Student Guild as an official group.

Absolutely! Jesus is amazing and now is the best time to get to know all about him. Even if you have been raised in a Christian home, it’s well worth reinvestigating Jesus and making an informed decision about him for yourself as an adult.
You will be warmly welcomed regardless of your experience of church (or if you have no experience of church!). CU is a place to make friends and discover more about Jesus.

There are so many reasons! Here’s just a few:

CU does not compete with church, but rather complements it.

ECU CU empowers and trains students to proclaim the gospel and live godly lives in the creative industries and the business world.

CU is about coming alongside Christian brothers and sisters from all kinds of churches and backgrounds. We have good things to teach one another, and it sharpens us in faith and love (proverbs 27:17). Living authentically as Christians means being open about who we are at uni (and later in our workplaces). It means standing firm when challenges arise, and being prepared to give an answer for the true and certain hope that we have (1Peter 3:15-16). This is good news in our uncertain world! For this we need the support of fellow Christians right there, and they need us.

Another reason is that CU offers great training in understanding God’s word, sharing the gospel and serving in ministry. ECU CU is able to focus on preparing people to serve in the creative industries and the business world. These opportunities are hard to come by elsewhere, and at uni it’s so easy to access, it’s cheap and you get to do it with a bunch of friends! Gospel workers in many churches, roles and parts of the world have begun their ministry journey at a CU! Investing some time for this now will benefit both uni and church.

Our group is part of AFES, the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students, a national community of students discovering Jesus together. All AFES groups across Australia stand in the same grace of God, the same gospel of Christ. 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.

We understand the pressures on uni students – exams, assignments, work, and more – but making time to invest in your faith is also important. See what’s on and plan to come to something. Talk to one of the student committee members or staff workers and see if they can help something to work.
There are also opportunities to connect outside of semesters, including NTE (our National Training Event), and local mid-year camps and conferences.

Totally valid question. There’s an increased awareness of questionable sects operating on university campuses. At ECU CU, we’re never okay with manipulating or coercing people. We strive for transparency: we openly name our beliefs, affiliations and leaders, and are affiliated with the Student Guild.