UGA’s buddy system
For students, International
Whether you are an international student that will arrive soon at the UGA or a UGA’s internationally minded student, the UGA’s mentoring system is perfect for you!
Discover the testimonials of students who participated in the mentoring program :
Why should you take part in the mentoring system?
- Meet people from new backgrounds.
- Open up to the international environment.
- Discover a new culture.
- Prepare your own mobility.
International student
Will you arrive soon at the UGA and still have many unanswered questions? Do you want to meet local students and discover the campus life?
And once you have arrived in Grenoble or Valence, the teams of the International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) can help and inform you throughout the whole duration of your study stay, and for all your settling in procedures and everyday life practical matters: accommodation, visa validation, residence permit applications, health, budget, insurances, daily life, etc.
Which questions can you ask your mentor?
Before arriving at the UGA and to best prepare your arrival, you can contact your mentor and ask about:
- Accommodation: how to find accommodation, which documents to provide, how to insure your accommodation, what is the CAF etc.
- Transportation: how to arrive to the station (shuttle from the airport, trains, etc.), the town’s public transportation, fares, subscriptions, bikes etc.
Upon arrival you can also ask questions about:
- Leisure activities: Which gym could he/she recommend you, which movie theater proposes films in original version, what are the museums’ fees, what student associations exist that match your hobbies etc.
- The town: which places can he/she recommend: restaurants, cafes, bars, university libraries and how they work, useful shops.
And once you have arrived in Grenoble or Valence, the teams of the International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) can help and inform you throughout the whole duration of your study stay, and for all your settling in procedures and everyday life practical matters: accommodation, visa validation, residence permit applications, health, budget, insurances, daily life, etc.
Local student
Are you a UGA’s internationally minded student? Do you wish to accompany an international student during his/her stay at the UGA? Do you want to discover another culture and meet students from all over the world?
What are a mentor’s missions?
Mentoring requires some time from local students and also to:- Try to answer your mentee’s questions before his/her arrival at the UGA.
- Be able to provide information about the French administration system:
(University system, administrative procedures (CAF, accommodation, insurance, etc.) or to know to which appropriate service to refer your mentee: International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO), the International Relations office, etc. if you don’t have the answer. - Inform him/her about the student life on campus.
- Be able to suggest activities that would allow your mentee to discover the region and the town.
What activities can you suggest to your mentee?
- To greet him/her at the station when he/she arrives and accompany him/her to receive the keys to his/her apartment.
- To go spend some time together at your favorite cafe or restaurant.
- To invite him/her if you plan a sports or cultural activity with your friends (hiking, museum visit, escape game, etc.)
- To go with him/her to the activities planned at the beginning of the academic year.
Registration was never so simple!
A few tips to make sure that the proposed match is the best one for you:- Remember to answer all the questions on the form
- Once you have registered, fill in the "hobbies" section of your profile.
- If something is very important to you, don't hesitate to write it in the comments section.
- You can also use the comment section to describe yourself a bit more and leave a short message to your future Buddy.
- Keep an open mind when a match is proposed to you. If your proposed Buddy doesn't share all your interests, it's also an opportunity to open up to new things and why not to discover a new passion!
Who can you contact to get more information?
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the services available on campus:- International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO): a service dedicated to international students, which can inform you about several administrative issues related to life in France.
- Your programs’ international relations office.
- International student associations: IntEGre, ESN Valence, BIE (INP), ISI (IEP), Transfer' (ENSAG).
- The town's international services: city hall, maison de l’international, etc.
Updated on June 25, 2024