Starting at a new university is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming at times. The International Student Buddying Scheme is here to help you find your community from day one by bringing new international students and current York students together.
Depending on where you are in your University of York journey, here is how you can get involved:
- New international students: sign up to become a Buddy and get matched into a supportive small group with other new international students.
- Current York students: help welcome our international community, make new friends, and enhance your employability by volunteering as a Buddy Leader.
About the scheme
The buddying scheme runs in the autumn semester and aims to:
- Offer support to new international students getting used to life at the University and away from home.
- Help international students develop a sense of belonging and community at York.
- Provide an exciting opportunity for current students to offer support to their peers.
- Give Buddies and their Buddy Leaders the chance to make new friends and learn new things.
Our Buddy Leaders are given training to be a friendly first point of contact for new international students. They’ve all been at York for at least a year, so they know what it’s like to be a student here. They can share their own experiences and provide advice for their group of Buddies.
Homesickness and other worries
We know that students are likely to speak to a peer about any concerns before asking the University or deciding to seek professional support. Informal support, like the Buddying Scheme, can help you think about what’s worrying you and decide what to do next. Often, just talking things through with someone who cares is all that’s needed to start feeling more positive.
Chat with a student buddy
International student, Ramiro, talks about his experiences of having a Buddy Leader as a fresher, and of being a Buddy Leader himself as a second year student.