This is an opportunity put forward by the University’s International Student Support Office. This way, new international students can meet some current students and get to know Guildford and the university.

What you have to do is sign up for the scheme by emailing  internationalwelcome@surrey.ac.uk and you will get paired off with a current Surrey student who will be emailing you back and forth, answering any questions you may have. Once you actually arrive in Surrey, you can arrange meetings with your buddy. This way, at least you’re guaranteed one friendly face.

I signed up for the buddy scheme and you basically fill out a form answering questions about your likes and dislikes and which program you’re in. Then they try and match you up with someone who’s got the closest results to yours. My buddy was a girl in her final year on my course. This was very helpful because she could answer questions about modules and the work load.

This year I will be signing up to be a buddy again, but this time I’m a current student. I would like to be of help to students in the same way my buddy helped me. She doesn’t know it, but she helped with my nervousness. I wasn’t as scared when I arrived as I otherwise would have been. Going to school in a different country for the first time can be daunting and I took every opportunity I could to try and know a few people before I came (via Facebook, the buddy scheme etc)

It also always helps to let yourself be as excited as possible!!