The Buddy Scheme
The Buddy Scheme pairs a visiting student from a foreign University with a student from St Andrews who has recently returned from their year abroad. The scheme operates for both semesters.
For visiting students the Buddy Scheme is a terrific opportunity to meet somebody who has had a similar experience of studying or working abroad, who knows St Andrews and you can practice your language skills together. It's also a good way to meet people and make friends.
For St Andrews students, the Buddy Scheme is a great way to meet foreign students and keep your language skills alive. If you would like to make visiting students feel welcome in St Andrews, the Buddy Scheme is definitely for you.
The role of a Buddy is to:
- help the incomer settle into St Andrews
- tell them a little about St Andrews' social/sports life and its traditions
- go out for a coffee or a drink
I immediately jumped at the opportunity to participate in the Buddy Scheme. I was worried, on returning from a year abroad in Spain, that I would lose fluency in Spanish by speaking to native speakers; I saw the Buddy Scheme as an opportunity to rectify that. Aside from this, the Buddy Scheme allowed me to make new friends and access a whole network of Eramus students I wouldn't have otherwise met. It is an experience I would gratefully repeat and would recommend it to anyone.
Jess, fourth year student of French, Spanish and Linguistics
If you would like to get involved in the Buddy Scheme, e-mail saamb@st-andrews.ac.uk