The primary objective of buddy programs is to pair incoming international students with existing students. More and more universities are now looking at offering such programs to prospective international students so as to address the challenges that are faced by incoming students.

Buddy programs are designed in such a manner that international students get matched with existing students well in advance that is much before the course commences.

The matching between the students is done considering several factors such as:

1. Course of Study
2. Shared interests
3. Languages known
4. Specific requests made by students

The basic idea is to connect new students with their buddies ahead of arriving at their study destination. The matching of students is generally done via e-mail. Later on, several other mediums might be used by students to maintain contact with their buddy.

Benefits of Buddy Program

Even though the role of a buddy may vary depending on the institution, their primary duty remains the same. It is to spend some time, generally, a few weeks with their buddies to help them adjust to new surroundings quickly by taking them around or by helping them with several new-student tasks.

Buddy program can help incoming students in different ways by:

1. Providing useful insights into college/ university life so as to make it easier for them to adjust into a new place
2. Sharing their own experiences, answering all sorts of questions and addressing all their concerns. It is because they have been at the same place in the past and can understand the situation quite well.
3. Acting as resource whenever looking at interesting hacks and tips in order to make their life in a new place relatively easier
4. Offering a wealth of information on study destination along with things to do, restaurants to try, places to go for grocery shopping, information on transportation system, locals, banks, student clubs and a lot more
5. Assisting them with coursework and study material
6. Providing them with complete information on documents required for registration along with health insurance
7. Referring them to an expert in case hosting students are unable to address their query