The MARIHE Buddy Programme
Moving to a new country and starting a new academic journey can feel overwhelming. Whether you have practical questions, want to hear about student experiences, or simply wish to connect with someone who has already been in your shoes, the MARIHE Buddy Programme is here to help make your transition into MARIHE a little easier. N.B.: This service is for newly selected students only, not for applicants or people generally interested in the programme!
What is the MARIHE Buddy ProgramMe?
The MARIHE Buddy Programme is a peer-support initiative designed to help newly selected students (i.e. students with a study place for the upcoming intake) settle into the programme and prepare for their MARIHE journey. Each participating student is matched with a senior buddy from a current cohort or from the MARIHE alumni community. Senior buddies will be able to offer practical advice, share their experiences, and help answer questions about studying and living in the MARIHE partner countries. The programme complements the support provided by the consortium and MARIHE Secretariat and serves as an informal space for students to connect with the wider MARIHE community.
What can you ask your buddy?
Senior buddies can help with a wide range of questions regarding student life, such as how to prepare for your move to Europe, accommodation, cultural adaptation, and many other aspects of the MARIHE experience. In addition, a group of MARIHE senior buddies created the MARIHE Survival Guide, a collection of practical tips and experiences gathered from current students and alumni (last updated: November 2025).
>> DISCLAIMER: Please note that both the Buddy Programme and the Survival Guide are volunteer-led initiatives and do not replace official information provided by the consortium universities, MARIHE Secretariat, or authorities. In particular, academic issues, visa regulations, institutional and admission requirements etc. may change frequently, so any advice or experiences shared by the buddies should only be considered as a complementary and individual advisory opinion to the official guidance provided by the relevant authorities and institutions!
Contact
The MARIHE Buddy Programme is coordinated by the Programme Representative (PR) of the Erasmus Mundus Association (EMA) for MARIHE (see below). For questions about the Buddy Programme, please contact marihe@em-a.eu or send a direct message to @marihe_ema on Instagram.
The Erasmus Mundus Association (EMA)
The Erasmus Mundus Association (EMA) is an international network of Erasmus Mundus students and alumni. Founded in 2006, EMA represents and connects members of the Erasmus Mundus community around the world. EMA works closely with Erasmus Mundus programmes and maintains a global network of Country Representatives and Programme Representatives to support current students and alumni through a wide range of initiatives.
Within MARIHE, the Buddy Program is coordinated by EMA’s Programme Representative (PR), a student representative who serves as a bridge between the MARIHE community and the wider Erasmus Mundus network.