Global Buddies matches existing students (Mentors) and new international students (Buddies) in a programme of joint fun activities designed to create a warm and friendly welcome to Brookes. It doesn't matter whether you are shy or outgoing, anyone can join as a mentor or as a buddy.
Global Buddies
Welcoming international students to Oxford Brookes!
Global Buddies runs every semester and brings together our current UK and current international students, who we call Mentors, with newly arrived international students, called Buddies, through organised events and activities. Many of these events are subsidised, and our Events team has even organised the first 4 weeks, so bring your enthusiasm along and eagerness with you to make new friends. Groups are also free to organise their own activities!
Mentors can share their experiences and provide tips about how to settle into life at Brookes and Oxford, and new international students will share their unique experiences and culture.
After registrations close, the Global Buddies Coordinators will match 1 or 2 Mentors with a small group of Buddies based on common interests. Your Mentor will then contact you along with the rest of your group by email to organise an initial catch-up activity early in the semester (week 2 commencing 1 October). Some groups even start meeting before that initial catch-up. Each group led by a Mentor can attend activities and events together which may be events organised by the Global Buddies Coordinators (see Global Buddies Events list below) and/or your own activities.
More about how the programme works can be found in our FAQs.
To join, you need to:
- Make sure you have read all the information available on this webpage before signing up, to ensure the programme is right for you.
- Complete the Registration Form (use the links below). Please note, the forms for Buddies and Mentors are different so make sure you complete the one applicable to you.
- Download and sign the Rules & Regulations document (use the links below) to confirm you agree and email the signed copy to global-buddies@brookes.ac.uk.
Due to the high number of registrations we receive each semester, we are unable to send an email to each individual student to confirm we have safely received their registration form and signed Rules & Regulations document. We will however email you before the closing date: 31 August for Mentors and 22 September 2022 for Buddies. If you don’t hear from us by this date, please email global-buddies@brookes.ac.uk.
If you have any questions regarding the registration process and you cannot find the answer in the FAQs, please don’t hesitate to email global-buddies@brookes.ac.uk.
Registration
- Opens on Tuesday 5 August 2022
- Closes on Thursday 22 September 2022, 5.00pm (UK time)
Why become a Buddy?
Starting at university can be a challenging time, especially if you are also travelling to a new country and adjusting to a new culture. Being part of Global Buddies helps make this experience a positive and rewarding one.
- A great way to make new friends from around the globe and have intercultural experiences.
- Settle into Oxford life more quickly.
- Share your unique culture with others and spread intercultural awareness.
- Make new friends from around the globe.
- Learn more about the British culture through our Mentors as well as other cultures.
Registration
- Opens on Tuesday 3 May 2022 (email global-buddies@brookes.ac.uk to sign up as a Mentor).
- Closes on Wednesday 31 August 2022, 5.00pm (UK time)
Why become a Mentor?
- A great way to make new friends from around the globe and share intercultural experiences.
- This is not a paid position, but it does develop employability skills through transferable skills, such as team building and leadership and looks great on a CV.
- Build confidence leading others through your own personal experiences in a supportive environment.
- Opportunity to join an informal Mentor catch-up to share tips and experience with other Mentors.
You can become a Mentor if you are a current UK or international student. You will be responsible for leading a group of new international students to help them integrate into UK life and encourage them to make new friends.
Both Mentors and Buddies can:
- Receive a Certificate of Participation
- Receive a BrookesEDGE STAR award (More information will be shared with students who are taking part in the programme)
To be eligible to receive a Certificate of Participation, please send us a proof that you have completed the 3 activities with your group by sending a photo or screenshot for each activity plus a 200-word paragraph about your experience of being on the programme. The deadline is 9 December 2022. Please note, you cannot apply as a group – each member needs to email individually.
Week / date | Activity |
Wednesday 14 September | Mentor Training (online) [For Mentors only] During this compulsory online session, we will share tools and information to help you succeed as a Mentor. We will share the Zoom link via email closer to the date. |
| Week 2 1 October - 9 October (Mentor to confirm time and date with their group) | Initial Catch-Up It’s time to meet your group! Mentors, you will get in contact with the Buddies in your group to organise a first catch-up through an activity, for example, going to a café or walk etc. Buddies, your Mentor will contact you to organise an initial catch up with you and the rest of your group. |
Week 3 Thursday 13 October | Junkyard Golf Club Join other Mentors and Buddies for this fun evening! 9-hole crazy golf course in a club atmosphere (music, flashing lights and UV lights). Subsidised event: £2 reduced tickets. Details of when and how to book will be announced in September/start of October. |
Week 4 Thursday 20 October | Board games evening Enjoy a fun and relaxed evening with your group at the university campus in Headington. We’ll provide hot drinks. Board games include (but are not limited to): Cluedo, Oxford Monopoly, Scrabble, Jenga, Pictionnary, Mikado and playing cards. You’re welcome to bring your own too! Free event. Details of when and how to book will be announced in September/start of October. |
Week 5 Monday 31 October Start time: 19.00 or 20.30 | Halloween Tour of Oxford A professional tour guide will take a group of 25 students for a Halloween tour in the centre of Oxford lasting approximately 1 hour. Two starting times. Details of when and how to book will be announced in September/start of October. Subsidised event: £1 reduced tickets |
Week 6 Thursday 3 November | Cream tea event Details of the venue to be confirmed. Scones and tea served at the table with jam and cream. After booking the event, please email global-buddies@brookes.ac.uk to inform us about any food allergies or dietary requirements you have (For example, if you are vegan, gluten-free, lactose intolerant or have any allergies). Details of when and how to book will be announced in September/start of October. Subsidised event: £3 reduced tickets. |
“This semester being a global buddy has been amazing. I have attended the junkyard golf event, and the board games event. Moreover, I have seen my buddies during other events around university too and going for meals too. It was nice to meet people that were so nice, friendly and kind to communicate with, and I feel doing global buddies therefore has made my university experience very rewarding, enjoyable, and memorable.”
“I have enjoyed Global buddies a lot this semester. I have had meet people from different parts of the world and made a lot of new friends. I have enjoyed the activities that were planned for us and also the activities that we did as a group on our own such as going to the pub to watch football matches.”