Uni students are notorious for partying. We’re young, we have little responsibilities, and we love to have a good time (especially when the drinks are flowing).

It’s safe to say you will attend countless parties in your time as a student, and no uni party is ever the same. Here are some we’ve all attended.

#1 Balls

If you think that uni balls are just like your high school formal but with alcohol, think again. Not only is it a night to get all dolled up, but a night to get loose, and I mean really loose.

For some, the unlimited alcohol for the night is a dangerous thing. Don’t be surprised if things around the venue get stolen, broken or vomited in, either. Uni balls are so wild that it’s impressive if you can make it through the entire ball, let alone kick on to the after party.

#2 Ball Recoveries

Don’t let the name fool you: these parties are definitely not designed to help you recover from last night’s ball antics. Rather, they’re a way to keep the partying going for as long as you (and your liver) can manage.

Recoveries are held at a local bar or club from mid-morning until mid-afternoon and, if you’re lucky, they’ll continue the bar tab from the night before. The best part about recoveries? You start drinking so early that you sleep through your hangover, and wake up feeling as fresh as ever.

#3 Themed Parties

These parties are pretty self-explanatory; they’re the parties with a theme that you’re expected to dress to. And the themes for uni parties are endless. They can range from something as innocent as cartoon characters, to something as wild as a “Traffic Light” party (red = in a relationship, yellow = it’s complicated, green = go ahead).

Whilst some will go all out with a costume, it’s also perfectly acceptable to wear a coloured t-shirt with “I’m a _____” scribbled on the front. People will probably be too drunk to care much about your costume, anyway.

#4 Pub Crawls

Pub crawls are a rite of passage for students, where you’ll go on an adventure to a number of bars and clubs in your city in the space of one afternoon. You’ll undeniably spend too much money, take too many shots, and have too many regrets the following morning.

What makes pub crawls extra fun is that not only with your ticket include a drink or two at each venue, but it can also include a t-shirt with a list of challenges on the back to complete during the crawl. Some of these challenges might seem crazy at first, but not when you’re a few drinks deep.

#5 Messy Parties

You know those fun runs where people run 5km and get coloured powder thrown all over them? Well these parties are kind of like those, except there’s no exercise (unless dancing counts) and everyone’s completely trashed.

These are the parties where some sort of coloured paint, dye or powder is thrown over you as you boogie the night away. They make for some sick before/after photos, but be warned, you could be scrubbing blue from your armpits for the next week.

Emily Steinhardt is currently studying Journalism and Communications at University of Queensland. She’s a Disney enthusiast who enjoys going out for brunch, taking photos of dogs and a good G&T. 

(Lead image: Bling Ring/FilmNation Entertainment)