Wohnheim Buddy - Infos

If you comply with the rules and regulations for the buddy programme,

• you will receive a certificate of participation at the end of the buddy semester to prove your volunteer commitment. For example, you can add this certificate to your application when you apply for jobs to prove your social and intercultural involvement.
   
• you can use the certificate of participation to apply for an extension of your rental period by one semester

• Direct contact with another tenant of your student residence even before you arrive
   
• Your buddy will be available to help with the key handover
   
• Receive help getting settled in your student residence and in Würzburg

• Once you have registered for the buddy programme, we will determine who is the best match for you. Criteria that we will take into account are your interests, place of residence, degree subjects and other factors that we know from years of experience are important for ensuring that you and your assigned partner will be good buddies. As soon as we have found a suitable buddy for you, you will receive his or her contact information so that you can get in touch and get to know each other.
   
• During the semester, the buddies will meet independently at least four times over the duration of one semester, mostly at the beginning of the semester, and will prepare written records of their meetings (template). 
   
• They buddies are free to plan their meetings in whichever way they like, but we are also happy to give tips if needed.
   
• Of course, you can contact the programme coordinators at any time during the semester. We will be happy to help.
   
• We would ask the residence buddy to submit (by email) a short wrap-up report at the end of the semester. Once we have received the report, the residence buddy will receive a certificate of participation.
   
• Participation in the buddy programme is a fixed-term commitment for a period of one semester. Many participants continue to meet with their buddies after the end of the buddy semester. This is not mandatory, however.

1. Objectives of the buddy programme

The buddy programme for students who live at one of the student residences in Würzburg is designed to help international students get settled in their university town, to foster intercultural exchange and to help create a welcoming atmosphere.

Two tenants each (an international buddy and a residence buddy) will be paired up by the Studierendenwerk Würzburg. At the start of the programme, the residence buddy will help the international buddy get settled in Würzburg. For example, they will give important tips before and during the move-in, help with the key handover and help the international buddy find their way around the student residence during the first few days.
After that, the two buddies will meet in their spare time and do whatever they enjoy.

The programme is designed to help the international tenants of our student residences get to know people as well as the culture and the landscape in Würzburg, while it gives the residence buddies the opportunity to broaden their horizons through international encounters.
 

2. Prerequisites for participation

Students who want to become a residence buddy must

• be living at one of the student residences in Würzburg that are operated by the Studierendenwerk Würzburg
• have been a tenant of the student residence for at least two semesters already
• be native speakers of German or have a good proficiency in German (at least B2 level) and must speak English

Students who want to become an international buddy must

• have been officially assigned a place at one of the student residences in Würzburg that are operated by the Studierendenwerk Würzburg
• speak English
• not be participating in a buddy programme offered by their university at the same time
   

3. Registration for the programme and pairing up of the buddies

Both the residence buddies and the international buddies will have to register for the buddy programme via the registration form found on the website of the Studierendenwerk Würzburg.

Once they have registered for the buddy programme, the buddies will be paired up by the staff members of the social counselling service of the Studierendenwerk Würzburg. We will make every effort to set up well-matched buddy pairings based on criteria such as interests, place of residence and degree subjects. Unfortunately, we will only be able to take requests into account to a limited extent when assigning buddies.

The international buddy and the residence buddy will receive an email with the contact information of their assigned buddy (usually) just before the start of the semester.

If no suitable buddy is found for the buddy semester, the students will be notified by email and given the opportunity to re-register for the buddy programme in the following semester. A registration will be valid for one semester and will be deleted at the end of the semester. Students who want to participate in the programme in a further semester will have to register again.

Students who want to withdraw their registration for the buddy programme and thus do not want to be paired up with a buddy will have to inform the social counselling service of the Studierendenwerk Würzburg by email without delay.

 

4. Buddy semester and certificate of participation for residence buddies

The staff members of the social counselling service of the Studierendenwerk Würzburg coordinate the buddy programme. At the same time, they serve as contact persons for questions and suggestions.

Residence buddies will only receive a certificate of participation if the following prerequisites are met:

• They must have contacted their assigned international buddy independently.
• They must have met with their assigned international buddy in person at least four times during the current semester (buddy semester). These meetings must be documented and listed in their report along with the date on which they took place.
• They must have submitted their completed report to the social counselling service of the Studierendenwerk Würzburg at the end of the buddy semester.
• They must have complied with the code of conduct.

 

5. Code of conduct

The code of conduct applies to everyone participating in the buddy programme and covers the following aspects:

Voluntariness

Participation in the programme as a residence buddy or international buddy is voluntary, and the participants will not receive payment.

Respect and non-discrimination

It is mandatory that all participants treat each other with respect and appreciation. No form of discrimination – e.g. based on a person’s nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, colour or other personal characteristics – will be tolerated.

Reliability and communication

Both buddies must make efforts to appear for agreed meetings on time and must let their buddy know in time if they are unable to make it to a meeting.

Respecting personal boundaries

The personal boundaries of every individual must be respected. No-one will be obliged to stay in touch on a private basis or to enter into private commitments beyond the programme.

Data protection and confidentiality

When registering for the programme, I agree to the data protection statement of the Studierendenwerk Würzburg and, at the same time, declare that I will keep the information confidential that I receive in the context of the buddy programme and that I will not pass this information on to third parties.

Political neutrality

The buddy programme is politically neutral. It offers an open space for intercultural exchange and mutual support, irrespective of political, ideological or religious beliefs.

We ask all participants to engage in political discussions only if both sides are expressly interested in doing so and to always be respectful and willing to have a constructive exchange when engaging in such discussions. The personal opinions of each individual will be respected, but there is no place for discriminatory, agitational or extremist statements on the programme.

Consequences of non-compliance

Non-compliance with this code of conduct may have consequences up to and including expulsion from the buddy programme. The buddies should report incidents of non-compliance with this code of conduct to the staff members of the social counselling service of the Studierendenwerk Würzburg.

 

6. Extension of the rental period of residence buddies

Students who want to apply for an extension of their rental period must present a certificate of participation issued by the social counselling service of the Studierendenwerk Würzburg. Students serving as a residence buddy may be granted an extension of their rental period of up to one semester. Apart from that, the rules and regulations for the allocation of places will apply.

 

7. End or termination of participation in the buddy programme

Participation in the buddy programme is a fixed-term commitment for a period of one semester. Normally, a student’s participation in the programme will end at the end of the buddy semester. Many participants continue to meet with their buddies after the end of the buddy semester. This is not mandatory, however.

Students who want to terminate their participation in the buddy programme before the end of the buddy semester must notify the social counselling service of the Studierendenwerk Würzburg in writing (per email).

 

8. Entry into force

These rules and regulations will enter into force on 1 November 2025 and will replace all previous rules and regulations governing the buddy programme.