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The first mention of the canoe society was through an advertisement in the McGarel in October 1979, encouraging students to join the newly formed club. In December 1979, the society had its first ever trip to the River Teifi, Llandyssul, Wales, where they competed in a white water race which was a 3 ½ mile course. Training for the society took place at 4pm on Wednesday afternoons at the Regent Street Pool. On Friday 16th May 1980, the society attended another trip to the River Wye in Herefordshire, which was ideal for beginners to canoeing to attend, due to the whitewater and because there was qualified instructors from the Riverside Canoe Club in Oxford.

In November 1980, the club focused on competing in slalom and wild water racing that took place on white water. The club also had opportunities of surfing and touring as well. 
During this time, the society had also become affiliated with the British Canoe Union, Cardiff Canoe Club and Riversdale Canoe Club in Oxford. One member of the society at the time was a Trainee Inland Instructor, who was qualified to teach basic skills to novices.

The first mention of the Exploration Society was in October 1973 through an advertisement of a meeting for students who were interested in expeditions to attend a lecture and film session revolving around this. At this time, members of the society had attended an expedition around West Africa and the Sahara. They had completed a ten week 10, 630 mile tour to Nigeria in which, members were able to collect nearly 3000 insects during this expedition. Another trip was planned during the academic year of 1973/74, for students to join the expedition to West Ethiopia from 10th July- 21st September 1974.

At the end of the academic year of 1975/76, the society had attended trips to Spitsbergen and the Tana River in Kenya. The aim of the Tana River Expedition was to undertake an ecological collection and medical survey.

In May 1977, the society was attending an expedition to Spitsbergen again.

In November 1978, the motorcycle club marked its first appearance in the McGarel. The report on the society in the publication, details the events of the society’s trip to Southampton, New Forest and the Motor Museum in Beaulieu. The society made many other trips to Brighton driving on motorbikes such as Yamaha 250’s, Triumphs, Nortons, and B.M.W’s. Society members usually would pay a membership fee to ensure if they had problems with their vehicle, they were ultimately able to use a tool kit to help repair any damages. The society at the time were hoping to obtain a garage and arrange a breakdown service too. Members would also often attend events like the Racing and Sporting Motorcycle show, which tickets being sold at only 60p.

On 28th March 1979, eight members of the society attended a tour of Brittany and Normandy, driving SSO Honda’s.

In 1973, the Polytechnic Netball Society was promoted to first division. A year later, the netball society finished in 7th position out of 16 colleges in a Netball rally. At the beginning of the academic year of 1974/75, the netball society was intending to put two teams into the Seetech league. Netball practice this year usually took place on Tuesdays.

In January 1981, the society managed to get into the quarter finals of the B.P.S.A Cup however, they lost to Westminster College. In November 1981, the society managed to reach the quarter finals of the B.P.S.A Cup. During 1980-1983, the society had played exceptionally well, winning the league once, becoming runners-up and reaching the semi-finals of the British Polytechnics Sports Association Tournament twice.

The Polytechnic Amateur Dramatic Society was formed in 1934. The society performed regularly until 1940 when, following a successful production of 'Private Lives', they took the decision to continue with a range of theatre-related discussions and activities during the War. The society was re-started in 1946 but had ceased its activities by 1976 at the latest.

Some time in 1977 the Ingoldsby Dramatic Society joined the Polytechnic Institute and became the Poly Ingoldsby Dramatic Society. They were still meeting in 1983 but it is not clear when they ceased.