Settling into university can be overwhelming for a lot of students – lectures in places that you’re not entirely sure where they are, new faces everywhere you turn and for many this will be the first time you are living away from home. That’s where buddy(su) comes in!

buddy(su) is a peer-support scheme designed to help students feel supported with life at UEA. buddy(su) matches students with volunteers who have been at the university for at least a year and who are able to offer advice and friendship, helping new students navigate through the new challenges of university life.

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Once matched with your buddy(su) volunteer, you will receive an email from them with their introduction and to have the initial chance to talk about any issues you have, or just to chat! This will be on or after A Level results day. Your buddy(su) volunteer will then meet up with you on campus in the first week of the semester known as Welcome Week should you feel comfortable doing so.

During your first meet-up you can talk through what you hope to get out of being part of the scheme, before agreeing on some initial further meet-ups including how often you would like to meet, the locations, the timings and the types of support you would benefit from. After this, you will also have access to staff support to ensure you both get the most out of the services that the buddy(su) scheme offers.

Our buddy(su) volunteers are students who have been at the university for at least a year who have been specifically trained to ensure they are well equipped to support new students to settle into life at UEA. This training includes information such as knowledge of campus support services, social opportunities, active listening skills, confidentiality and safeguarding. If you are unhappy with your buddy(su) volunteer, you can request to be re-matched with someone else by emailing us on buddy.su@uea.ac.uk or by coming in to see us in person at the SU Office upstairs in Union House!

buddy(su) is open to all students; however, we will prioritise matches for those who are new to the university experience (Undergraduate and Foundation years). Postgraduate students are welcome to apply and will either be matched subject to availability of buddy(su) volunteers or they will placed on a waiting list. We will aim to match on the preferences outlined in your registration form. So, whether you need practical tips, support with university life or want to meet new people - buddy(su) is here for you.

If you are a continuing student at UEA and feel you would benefit from the support of a buddy(su) volunteer, you are also very welcome to join the scheme.

They can provide you with a variety of in-person and online support based upon your needs: From helping you to attend Club and Society sessions to going for coffee with you on campus to check-in with you, our buddy(su) volunteers help you to combat loneliness, find your friends and ultimately to ensure that you feel like you belong at UEA.

Whether you want to know the best place to study on campus, learn a new skill or to meet new people, there’s no one better to help you than a buddy(su) volunteer. One of our students has also compiled a guide for discovering Norwich as a city!