Experiencing Diversity Together - Join the Buddy Program!

2026-06-22

Studying abroad is an exciting experience that broadens one’s horizons and brings many new impressions. At the same time, getting started in a foreign country can be quite challenging. New people, a foreign language, unfamiliar routines, and an unknown culture - these often raise questions one hadn’t even anticipated.

Every semester, international students arrive at Leuphana and begin their studies in Lüneburg. In addition to communicating in a foreign language and studying in a different academic system, there are also many small everyday puzzles to solve. Why is it so important in Germany to look each other in the eyes when toasting? And how to tilt a window without opening it? Of course, many answers can be found online or using AI. But it’s often even more enjoyable to meet new people and discuss these kind of questions.

That’s exactly what Leuphana’s Buddy Program is for. International students can sign up for the program and are matched with a Leuphana student. This often establishes the first contact with the new place of study even before arriving. A buddy can help alleviate uncertainties, answer questions, and make the transition to daily life easier. And sometimes you can even make friends.

But it’s not just international students who benefit. The program also offers many exciting experiences for the buddies. Former participant Hannah Köhn, for example, describes it as particularly rewarding to “get to know places, cities, and everyday things that had long since become second nature to [her] from a completely new perspective.” 

Anyone who volunteers as a buddy can also receive a certificate that can be used, for example, as proof of volunteer work when applying for jobs.

Interested? Then simply send an email to buddy@leuphana.de with your phone number and optionally information about your preferred languages or countries.