Buddy Programme
Attention, Incoming Students!
You do not need to register separately for a buddy from our faculty – we will automatically assign you a student. Please note, however, that we may not have enough buddies. You are therefore welcome to also register with the ESN Vienna buddy system.
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What Is a Buddy?
A student who agrees to be the first point of contact at the faculty for incoming exchange students, especially during the first few weeks (end of September/February).
If you want to apply for a semester abroad later on, taking part in the Buddy Programme will earn you extra points!
A buddy is especially important at the start of the semester. We therefore ask for your understanding that students who sign up later in the semester will be asked to register again for the following semester.
Register here to become a buddy!
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Possible Tasks of a Buddy
- Getting in touch by email
- Helping with course selection and course registration (all exchange students have to register for courses in the regular way and allocate points)
- Picking them up from the airport or train station (not essential, but great if possible)
- Accompanying them to their student residence/flat
- Helping with registration in Vienna: for everyone at the residence registration office, and for EU and EEA citizens also at MA 34
- Welcome Meeting for Incoming Exchange Students at the faculty: as a rule, only incoming students attend. Afterwards, however, the Students' Union (ÖH) always organises an informal get-together at a bar for incoming students and buddies.
- Being a contact person for problems with courses – please also pass these on to us if they can't be solved straight away!
- Helping them find their way around Vienna
- Possibly evening and weekend activities together – whatever's fun!
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Buddy Registration
Once you have registered as a buddy, International Support will assign you an incoming exchange student as your buddy partner. Any preferences you give regarding nationality or language will be taken into account where possible.
Please note the following:
- Most exchange students arrive in Vienna in September or February, so it makes most sense to register in August or January respectively.
- We have far more incoming students in the winter semester than in the summer semester.
- Some countries/regions (e.g. Asia, South America, English-speaking countries) are very popular with buddies, but unfortunately we usually only have a very limited number of incoming students from them. Please be flexible here if necessary!
- All our incoming students speak English. Those from non-German-speaking countries are often learning German and are therefore happy to have the chance to practise it.
At the end of your semester as a buddy, you can request a certificate of participation from International Support, which will earn you extra points in your own Erasmus application.