Become a buddy for new international students

Are you excited about connecting with students from around the world and helping them feel at home in Maastricht? As a buddy in our International Student Ambassador Programme (ISAP), you’ll have the chance to guide new students through their journey, offering support as they adjust to a new culture and environment. 

Are you an international student looking for information on how to sign up for a buddy? Visit our page Buddy programme for new international students.

Why become an international student ambassador?

As an ambassador, you'll connect with new students from diverse cultures, serving as their primary point of contact for any questions. This role promises significant personal growth and comes with the following benefits, as you will: 

  • connect and exchange experiences with students from different cultures and backgrounds, developing significant cross-cultural skills 
  • receive professional coaching in communication, intercultural awareness and student psychology  
  • be awarded an official certificate signed by the Maastricht University Executive Board, which can serve as proof of participation for potential employers  
  • have many opportunities to participate in fun and exciting events at no cost to you 

Time commitment

The ISAP buddy programme runs from the end of August to the end of March. It is divided into three blocks, each spanning five weeks. You will have a different group of newcomers in each block:  

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

Ambassadors need to be available for all three blocks.  

Your duties

As an ambassador, you will assist the international students assigned to you in each block by doing the following: 

  • share your experiences and answer any questions they have about studying and living in Maastricht 
  • communicate with them before they arrive in the Netherlands 
  • help them settle into Maastricht 
  • help them find their way in and around the university 
  • introduce them to Dutch culture and traditions 
  • attend the ISAP Welcome Event with them for each block as well as attend at least one or two ISAP activities for each block 
  • organise at least one or two social gatherings for your group for each block, separate from the ISAP-organised activities for all of the groups 

How to apply

As of April 2025, details about how to apply to be an ambassador for the 2025/26 academic year will be posted here. At that time, you can apply via this webpage.  
 
Interested in reading testimonials? Head to our Instagram or Facebook pages and have a look at the experiences of our former ambassadors.