Global Buddies

Welcoming New International Students to Brookes

Global Buddies gives a warm and friendly welcome to new international students at Brookes through our programme. Are you looking to make new friends from all four corners of the globe and transition into Oxford life quickly? It doesn’t matter whether you are shy or outgoing, anyone can join!

What is Global Buddies?

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 free or subsidised, and our Events team has even organised the first 6 weeks (see below), 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. 

How does it work?

Once registrations are closed, we match students based on their interests - languages and hobbies. We usually have 2 or 3 mentors (a mix of current UK students and current international students) and 3 to 5 buddies, but this may vary depending on the number of students who register for the programme.

When the groups are formed, we will email you the contact details of your group. You are then free to start getting in touch with each other before the Welcome Event. We recommend you attend three activities with your group each semester.

More about how groups are matched can be found in our FAQs.

How do I join?

To join, you need to:

1. Complete the Google registration form below

2. Read the Rules & Regulations document, sign it to confirm you agree with it, and email the signed copy to global-buddies@brookes.ac.uk.

Make sure you have read all the information available on this webpage before signing up to the programme.

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 w/c 14 September to confirm whether you have successfully signed up for the programme. If you don’t hear from us by 19 September, please email global-buddies@brookes.ac.uk.

If you have any questions regarding the registration process and you cannot find the answer in the FAQ, please don’t hesitate to email global-buddies@brookes.ac.uk.

Buddies - New International Students

Why should you join?

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.

Mentors - Current Students

You can become a mentor if you are a current UK or current international student and 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.

Why become a mentor?

• A great way to make new friends from around the globe and have intercultural experiences.
• Being part of a peer mentoring scheme looks great on your CV.
• Increases employability through transferable skills, such as team building and leadership.
• Opportunity to join an informal mentor catch-up to share tips and experience with other mentors.
• Develop essential work-related skills by attending free Mentor Skill Sessions:
• Developing leadership skills
• Cultural Awareness
• My Mentor Experience: CV & Transferable Skills

Rewards on Completion

Students who successfully complete the programme will be entitled to:

• Receive a Certificate of Participation
• A BrookesID "International Peer Supporter" achievement
• Mentors will receive a certificate if they complete all the Mentor Skill Sessions

Global Buddies Events

We are currently working on the activities schedule for Semester 1 as we are taking into consideration social distancing measures that will need to be implemented.