Any student from the international community at the University of Edinburgh who signs up to the app can be considered a Global Buddy.

The Buddy Group is your most direct point of contact with the Global Buddies programme. You can contact them before you arrive in Edinburgh and will then meet up with them on a regular basis whilst you’re here. It can really help with settling into life in a new city, country and University to have a ready-made group of contacts to explore the city or to hang out with and to share tips and experiences. Many Buddy Groups become friends and even stay in touch once they’ve left Edinburgh! When signing up, you will be asked a series of questions, so the app accurately matches you with like-minded people based on your preferences.

Each Supergroup is being looked after by one or more Supergroup Leaders who organise activities for their Supergroup and check in with Buddy Group Leaders on a regular basis to make sure everyone can enjoy the programme. Each Supergroup is made out of a number of Buddy Groups.

The role of a Buddy Group Leader is to help other students in their Buddy Group to have a great time at the University of Edinburgh. Together with a second Buddy Group Leader and a number of international students, they make up a Buddy Group. Group Leader positions are for the full academic year.

Like a Buddy Group Leader, a Supergroup Leader’s role is to help other students in their Buddy Group to have a great time at the University of Edinburgh. In addition, they organise activities for their Supergroup and have a pastoral role in making sure all Buddies in their Supergroup can enjoy the programme. Supergroup Leaders act as the liaison between their Supergroup and the student Global Buddies Committee.

Any international student can become a Global Buddy by signing up to this app and then be matched into a Buddy Group based on preferences chosen during the registration. Group Leaders and Supergroup Leaders have already been selected and fully trained, but there may be further sign up periods during the year for these roles – so please look out for that if you’re interested.