The Study Buddy Program is organized by the Kompass team at the International Office. It facilitates intercultural activities that bring international and local students together. The Study Buddies are matched at the beginning of the semester, usually based on their interests. They decide for themselves how much time they spend together and what activities they engage in. The organizing team also regularly offers excursions where the participating students can meet the other Study Buddy pairs.

Tanya and Aneeb, why did you decide to take part in the Study Buddy Program?

Tanya: I am originally from Mauritius. When I came to Germany to pursue my bachelor’s degree, I participated in a similar program. It helped me a lot at the time. I have been living here for almost ten years, and last year, I started a master’s program in Marine Biology at the University of Bremen. Since I know from my own experience how difficult it can be to find your way around a foreign country and a foreign university, I would like to help other international students. That’s why I signed up as a local buddy. As an international student, I am familiar with visa issues and other formalities. I wanted to share this knowledge as well.

Aneeb: I am a first-semester master’s student in the Management Information Systems program at the University of Bremen, and I am from Pakistan. When I arrived in Bremen, I didn’t know anyone and didn’t speak German. I thought it would be nice to be able to talk to someone who speaks English. Additionally, I thought it would be helpful to connect with someone who has already navigated the initial stages of their German student life and is able to offer me valuable insights.

You’ve known each other for almost two months. What have you done together during this time?

Tanya: (laughs) We’re probably not the typical Study Buddies because today is actually the first time we’ve met face-to-face. It’s more that I’m available for Aneeb and he can contact me if he has concerns. Especially in the beginning, we were in close contact via WhatsApp. Other Study Buddies probably socialize much more with each other. But for us, it worked very well this way.

Aneeb: Tanya was assigned to be my buddy when I had been here just a few weeks. She sent me an email, introduced herself, and said that I could contact her anytime if I didn’t understand something. She offered to write emails and to translate texts for me. Usually, I am the kind of person that tries to find solutions by myself first, but I actually took advantage of her help with problems almost all the time in the beginning.

Tanya: At the beginning, we talked a lot, and I was surprised at how well we got along right away. That’s probably because we were socialized in similar ways, both culturally and religiously, and we have a lot of shared values. A lot of people in Mauritius are descendants of Indian peoples. So, there are many similarities between Indian and Pakistani culture – even the food is similar.

Aneeb: Absolutely, food is a huge part of culture throughout the subcontinent. We also discovered that we follow the same people on social media.

Tanya: It’s good for me to talk to Aneeb because he understands me on so many different levels. There simply is no large community of students from Mauritius at the university with which I could connect that way.

Aneeb, what challenges was Tanya able to help you with?

Aneeb: Tanya was definitely a huge help when it came to finding an apartment. That took a long time and was really frustrating. I didn’t know how to approach the search, which is why I received many rejections at first. Although she didn’t actively do anything, it was nice to have someone during that time who was willing to listen to me and shared her experiences with me. Another issue that troubled me at first was how to find a job. Thankfully, Tanya was able to give me good advice and tips on this as well. She showed me the Stud.IP bulletin board and told me about websites with job listings. Another topic I was able to ask Tanya about was registering on the university’s online portals. Some of them are really complicated and counterintuitive, especially if you don’t speak German.

Tanya: I also helped Aneeb with the paperwork for renting an apartment. After all, in the long time I’ve been here, I’ve signed a few rental agreements.

What do you think is important for Study Buddies to work well as a team?

Tanya: Both should be open-minded and, ideally, willing to learn a little bit about the culture of the other person. It’s also really important to listen to each other and communicate respectfully. When the other person opens up, try to understand them, be empathetic, and work together to find solutions. Everything your buddy shares with you is important for them. So be patient and understanding. Everyone grows up differently and some of us need help with things that seem obvious to others.

Aneeb: I totally agree. I’d add: Don’t be shy – reach out and join the program! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. People who don’t speak German or are abroad for the first time can especially benefit from the program. Be there for your buddy and respect their individual personality. No matter where you are in the world, some people are introverts and some are extroverts, and everyone has different needs. So be creative and find things you have in common. Don’t stick to old patterns of behavior, but be open to trying new things. You’ll see that it pays off – even after just a few weeks. Everything is easier when you do it together, and problems are much easier to solve with a friend.

Further Information

We are looking for locally-based and international students to participate in the Study Buddy Program of the 2025/26 winter semester. The Study Buddy Program allows you to meet people from all over the world, to practice a new language, and make new friends.

Registration opens on October 1, 2025. You can find further information on the website.