Universiteit Leiden

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Contact with other students

Staying in contact with other students might not always be easy but it is very important. Find out about the different ways in which you can meet other students.

During your student days there might be times when you could use a little extra support or interaction. Talking to other students can help, whether it’s about study-related matters or more personal topics. The university offers peer support in the form of support groups and buddy programmes.

Student buddy programmes

Are you looking for someone to study with, or would you like to come into contact with other students for support or social activities? Sign up for one of the student buddy programmes.

University-wide

The following buddy programmes are open to students of all faculties.

  • Student Buddies
    Are you looking for a study buddy? Or would you like to come into contact with another student for good conversation, sports or other social activities? Via the Student Buddy Service you can be put in touch with another student. Just indicate on the registration form in which areas of interest you would like to be matched with someone. Maybe you want to meet another dog owner, someone else who is learning Finnish, or a student who is also interested in sustainable investing? Sign up for the buddy service!
  • Buddy Talk
    Get together to learn another language whilst learning more about each other’s culture.
  • Barrier-free studying
    For students with a disability.

Via your faculty

Some faculties offer buddy programmes for their new students. You will be matched with a more experienced student who will show you the way within the university, in local student life, and in the cities of Leiden or The Hague.

Student support groups

Student Support Groups offer a safe and confidential environment in which you can come into contact with fellow students, share your experiences and find support. There are support groups for a variety of target groups and topics. View the student support groups currently on offer and sign up!

Via the Uni-Life app (for Leiden and The Hague) and Studar app (for The Hague) you can stay up to date on all the latest social activities for students of Leiden University. Uni-Life also offers the option to get to know new people via online communities. Read more about Uni-Life and Studar.

Do you ever feel lonely or would like to have a little fun and meet new people? Why not sign up for Student Schuift Aan (meet and eat)? Via this initiative, the Present Foundation brings together people who could use some company. Both students and residents of Leiden and Oegstgeest. Together, you will form duos and arrange to cook and eat at your place or theirs. Sounds like fun? Sign up via the Present Foundation website. You can state your preferred days when registering.

Would you like to talk to someone about issues related to race and ethnicity? Space to Talk about Race is an intersectional community that organises a range of activities related to this topic as well as safe(r) space meetings. The Afro Student Association (ASA) and Middle East and North Africa student association (MENA) also organise events and offer a community. Or contact the Diversity and Inclusion Expertise Office if you have questions related to diversity and inclusion as well as safety on campus, either by mailing diversiteit@leidenuniv.nl or using the contact form.

As well as being fun, associations can offer you a social network and a range of worthwhile activities. Many students find that association membership enriches their student days and contributes to their enjoyment of their studies. A study association is a good way to combine study-related activities with having fun. There are also many student associations in which students from various disciplines and with various interests come together for fun, sports and cultural activities.

Looking for a cozy place to relax or get creative? Come to the Living Room on the ground floor of Plexus Student Centre. Here you can also find a Well-being Desk with a welcoming host who can answer your questions, provide information on well-being services, offer a listening ear, and assist in organising activities with you or for you.

Would you like to volunteer as a host at the Well-Being Desk? Send a mail to: studentwellbeing@sea.leidenuniv.nl with ‘host in the title.

Leiden University wants to emphasise the importance of having a good chat. Whether you want to get things off your chest, validate your feelings, or talk about ways to work on your well-being. Via Frisse Gedachtes (which translates as Fresh Thoughts), you can chat anonymously with a buddy. If your buddy is not online when you send a message, they will get back to you as soon as possible. You can also plan a day and time for your chat in advance. Or arrange to get together with other students for fun activities via their Connects tool. Create an account for free via the Frisse Gedachtes website and start a conversation.

Have a good suggestion? Let us know.

Do you have a good suggestion concerning how to improve student well-being? Let us know by sending a mail to: studentwellbeing@sea.leidenuniv.nl.

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