Buddy programme for new international students

Wouldn’t it be nice, as an incoming international student at Maastricht University (UM), to have a buddy in Maastricht who can help ease your transition to living in your new city? Someone who can tell you about the cheapest places to shop, the best places to eat and fun places to go dance? And someone who can introduce you to other new international students at social events? That’s what the International Student Ambassador Programme (ISAP), or the UM buddy programme, is all about—helping you to quickly feel at home in Maastricht. 

The buddy programme connects you and a group of your peers who are also new to the university with a current UM student who serves as your ‘ambassador’ or ‘buddy’ during your first few weeks in the city. Your ambassador will guide you through the settling-in process, helping you with any questions you have about university life in Maastricht. You will also be able to attend a series of social activities with your group and your ambassador, organised by ISAP. These activities are a great way to meet other new international students and experience Maastricht in a fun and exciting way. 

How to register

Registrations for the second block of 2024-2025 are now open.  You can register for the third block that begins on January 31st2025 here Hope to see you there!

Follow us on Instagram or Facebook for updates and sneak peeks of our planned activities.

Timeline and costs

The ISAP Buddy Programme is structured into three blocks, each spanning five weeks, during which we organise five different social events:  

  • first block: end of August to end of September  
  • second block: November to December 
  • third block: February to March  

Each block costs €30 to join, which covers the total cost of all five social events in the block. There is a separate registration for each block, so you choose which block(s) you want to participate in.  

Types of activities

Previous ISAP activities have featured a variety of activities focused on helpful information, cultural activities, fun places in Maastricht and Dutch traditions, such as:  

  • informative sessions with MyMaastricht.nl  
  • explorations of city highlights like cave tours 
  • visits to the renowned Bonnefanten Museum 
  • glow-in-the-dark mini golf  
  • pub quiz night  
  • borrelen’ and game night 
  • Sinterklaas gift exchange 

To get a glimpse of these events and join in the fun with your ambassador/buddy, check us out on Instagram or Facebook. 

“Being a part of ISAP has enabled me to settle easily into the Maastricht community. While the activities they organised were extremely fun and some enabled me to gain significant information on Maastricht and Dutch culture in general, I also was able to make friends with a lot of like-minded people in different faculties who I never would have met without ISAP.” 
Leyla, Exchange student 

“I’m so glad I joined ISAP! I got to meet people from all faculties and cultures, make lasting friendships and discover more of what this city has to offer. Maastricht feels more like home to me now!”
Maïlys, Medical student 
 

"Coming from a place outside the EU could have been a challenge. But thankfully, ISAP and the lovely people that are part of it were willing to help and explain what the priorities are here and how we should go about it.”
Jorge, Data Science master’s student

How to become a buddy

Are you a current student looking to become a buddy for new international students? Visit our page Become a buddy for new international students.