International staff buddy scheme

The buddy scheme is an informal process designed to help new international staff settle into life at the University of Bristol, and life in the city of Bristol in general. The main purpose of a buddy is to ease the transition of both moving to a new city and adjusting to the higher education system in a new country.

A buddy can help with navigating the university, introducing the new starter to colleagues, and providing local knowledge.

How it works

New international colleagues are asked if they would like to join the Buddy scheme as part of their relocation support. This involves being allocated a buddy who is an existing member of staff who will help them settle in to University life, and life in Bristol.

The Staff Immigration Team recruit 'buddies' from the existing staff population and maintain a database.

When a new starter asks to join the scheme the Staff Immigration Team find a suitable buddy from the database, and provides them with the new joiner's details and guidance on what the buddy needs to do.

The buddy will then contact the new joiner directly and offer help and support over the period of their relocation, and after they have arrived and started work.

The suggested duration of the 'informal' buddy relationship is 4 months after the new joiner starts their role.

Full guidance on the scheme and the responsibilities of a buddy: Buddy Guide (PDF, 458kB).

Find out how to volunteer to be a buddy.

Feedback from existing buddies:

"The buddy system has been a real joy so far.

"In the last week or so, I received good news from a previous buddy about the arrival of a baby. Having continued our friendship throughout lockdown virtually, and then managed to finally go on a trip out with them with my own children to enjoy walking in the Mendips, the experience of being a buddy has been really rewarding.

"The last 18 months was really difficult for many and for those who were at distance from family and friendship networks ever more so. It seems the buddy system came into its own when individuals were locked down under these already testing circumstances.

In this way, I view it as a huge success and look forward to participating again as part of the active, welcoming Bristol community."

"I think the scheme is a really great initiative and I believe it has been helpful for incoming international staff, especially over the past year and a half. I was assigned a buddy last year who unfortunately had to arrive in Bristol during one of the lockdowns / periods of heavy restrictions. We met virtually several times before and soon after her arrival, and she found it helpful to get to know about Bristol and how to do things like look for accommodation, set up a bank account, etc.

I think it really helped her get settled in Bristol as she didn’t know anyone here when she first started, so having a point of contact to ask questions or even just to have a chat every now and then. And of course it seemed to help settle some of her nerves coming to the UK in the midst of a pandemic. We had the opportunity to meet up in person after restrictions eased and we continue to be in touch. I think it has been nice to make a new friend as well."