What are buddy activities?
Buddy activities is an activity programme for new students on a bachelor's programme, one-year programme, professional programme or an integrated master's programme. The activities are planned and organised by the buddy board at the faculty you will be attending and take place in the afternoons and evenings. It usually only takes place during the first week of the autumn semester, i.e. welcome week.
You will be assigned a buddy group, and together you participate in activities throughout the week. You’re completely free to choose which of the activities you want to participate in. The buddy group is usually led by one or more experienced students who have volunteered to be a buddy. We try our best to ensure that the buddies are from the same study programme as you. If we can't make that happen, you will at the very least be assigned a buddy group from the same faculty as you.
How do I join buddy activities?
You will find out which group you have been assigned to before you start the semester, or on the first day of the welcome week. You will usually be in a group with other students also on your study programme. If you have not received information about the buddy group by the first day of the welcome week, you should contact the buddy board at your faculty. See the contact information further down the page.
If you cannot participate on the first day, or start later in the week, contact your faculty’s info centre or the buddy board at your faculty, and they will help you.
What activities can I participate in?
There are different activities for each faculty. Since UiB has seven faculties, there are seven different programmes with buddy activities. If you are unsure which faculty is yours, you can look at the study programme pages, under the “New student”-box.
The buddy programme for each faculty will be made available during the summer:
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Science and Technology
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Faculty of Psychology (Facebook)
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design (Instagram)
There are also various joint activities that you can participate in, either with your buddy group or on your own. These will also be posted here as the date approaches.
Who can I ask if I have any questions?
If you have any questions about the activities, your buddy group or other practical things related to the buddy programme, you can contact your buddies directly or the buddy board at your faculty. You will get the contact information for your buddies at the first gathering with the buddy group.
This is how you can contact your buddy board:
(Contact information will come this summer).
- Faculty of Humanities: Instagram or Facebook
- Faculty of Science and Technology: Instagram
- Faculty of Social Sciences: Facebook
- Faculty of Psychology: Instagram or Facebook
- Faculty of Medicine: Instagram
- Faculty of Law: Instagram
- Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design: Instagram
Frequently asked questions
Has my buddy been trained?
Every buddy at UiB has participated in training to ensure that the buddy activities are as safe and inclusive as possible for everyone.
Can I change to another buddy group?
In principle, you cannot do this. However, it is possible to contact the buddy board at your faculty and discuss the possibility of it.
Do I have to participate in some or all of the buddy activities?
All buddy activities are completely voluntary, but they are a good opportunity to get to know your place of study, and those you will be studying with. Most people find that participating in buddy activities during the welcome week gives them a good start to student life in Bergen.
However, there is a lot going on and many may find the start of the semester a bit overwhelming. It is completely allowed to take a break and instead prioritise the events you are most excited to attend. It is also completely natural to have to prioritise work or other commitments during the welcome week.
NOTE! Some study programmes have compulsory teaching or similar activities during the first week. Check with your buddies or mentors if you are unsure if any of the activities in the welcome week are mandatory.
What is the difference between a buddy and a mentor?
There are several differences between a mentor and a buddy. A buddy will only be with you and your group for the first week of your studies, while you will have a mentor for the entire first year. The mentors also have a broader area of responsibility and focus on the academic side of student life, while the buddies mainly focus on the social part of being a student. If you have a mentor group during the welcome week, it is usually they who are with you and the buddy groups during the day, while the buddies take over in the afternoon and stay with you throughout the evening.
Do I have to sign up for the buddy activities?
The answer to this varies from faculty to faculty. The Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Social Sciences have registration in advance (you will receive an email with a link by the end of July), while the other faculties divide all new students into buddy groups when the welcome week starts. If you have not received information about buddy groups by the first day of the welcome week, you should contact the buddy board at your faculty. See the contact information for the buddy boards further up the page.
NOTE! Some of the buddy activities will require a ticket that must be purchased in advance. It should be clearly stated in the program if a ticket is required for an event, and where and when you can get one. Ask one of your buddies or the buddy board at your faculty if you have any questions about this.
Does it cost anything to participate in the buddy activities?
Most of the buddy activities are free. You will most likely still spend some money the first week, both for food and drinks. It will be a very busy week with a lot to do, so you may not always have the time or desire to go home to eat. At some of the buddy activities, it will be planned for you to eat together as a group. See the programme for the welcome week to check which days this applies to,
You must buy a ticket for some activities during the welcome week, such as concerts, banquets and the like. It must be clearly stated in the program if you need to buy a ticket for an event. Ask one of your buddies or the buddy board at your faculty if you have any questions about this.
Are there buddy activities for master's students?
The answer to this question varies from faculty to faculty and from programme of study to programme of study. In general, the buddy boards at the various faculties plan buddy activities for new students who are starting a bachelor's, integrated master's or professional programmes.
The joint activities during the welcome week (see programmes further up) are open to everyone.
However, all faculties must have an offer for all new students, both master's students and exchange students. At some faculties, master's students are integrated into buddy groups with first year students or get their own buddy group. For most, however, it is the study programme committee that arranges social activities for the new master's students. These study programme committees are often present at information meetings/orientation meetings/start-up meetings and will inform about any social events at the start of the semester.