Get a Buddy to help you settle in and live an intercultural experience!
The UA Buddy System is a sponsorship program that allows local students to meet and help international students. It is a fantastic way for international students to have a more immersive cultural experience and for local students to learn about foreign cultures and customs.
By enrolling in the Buddy System, an international student can receive help from a local student upon arrival. For example, The Buddy can meet you when you arrive at the train station, accompany you to your accommodation, give you practical information about public transport, grocery shopping, the campus, or help with administrative formalities, or simply grab a cup of coffee from time to time.
Students who must apply for a visa to study in France, should not sign up for the Buddy System until they have obtained their visa.
How to become a Buddy?
Register on the platform www.buddysystem.eu
Read the Buddy Agreement and create your profile on the Buddy System Platform.
Fill in as much information as possible – it will help us find the perfect Buddy Mentor!
The Buddy Coordinator will find the Buddy Mentor that best matches your profile, ideally, someone who studies at the same faculty or on the same campus.
And remember to confirm the profile via the confirmation link that you will receive by email.
First contact with you Buddy Mentor
Your Buddy Mentor will contact you. Please reply quickly. This contact will allow you to ask any questions you might have while planning your arrival (transportation, local customs, anything special to prepare for, etc.). It also gives you the chance to know someone on-site, which can sometimes be reassuring.
You and your Buddy Mentor can arrange to meet at the train station upon your arrival so that he/she can accompany you to your accommodation.
Please note that you should arrange and agree on this as early as possible so that your Mentor can free his/her schedule.
When you arrive in France
Your Buddy Mentor will pick you up upon your arrival if you have agreed on this. They will then accompany you to your accommodation. They can also show you the local grocery shops in your neighbourhood and the public transport system.
The Buddy Mentor can help you with certain administrative tasks, such as getting a French phone number, opening a bank account, etc.). If you need help during your stay in France, you can contact your Buddy Mentor.
The Buddy Mentor can also show you around:
- the city, your neighbourhood, the cafés and bars, the museums, shops and events. The Buddy Mentor might also invite you to his/her parties or outings. If you accept these invitations, it is a great way to meet other local students.
- UA, the campus, the faculty and other student services (The International Office, le Infocampus helpdesk, the student registration office, etc.).
Remember to show initiative and ask the Buddy Mentor to go out (for coffee, to see the tourist sites, etc.).
The International Office will also organise events and trips throughout the semester for you to take part in with or without your Buddy Mentor.
Keep in touch during the semester
You can ask the Buddy Mentor questions throughout the semester or simply stay in touch for social reasons. Who knows? The Buddy Mentor might become a friend for life…
Contact
Buddy Coordinator: buddysystem@univ-angers.fr
The International Office
La Passerelle
Campus Belle-Beille
2 rue Lakanal
49000 Angers
Tramway stop Belle-Beille Campus
