Finding a mentor for the new academic year 2025

Most university cities in France have international mentoring systems designed to help international students integrate. Each year, French students volunteer to "buddy up" with an international student, offering support when they arrive.

Depending on their availability, a sponsor can meet an international student at the airport or train station, give them a tour of the campus and city, and help them with administrative tasks. Various digital platforms are available to match sponsors with students based on their school, languages, and shared interests.

The ESN Buddy System

Present in more than 30 university cities in France, the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) has developed the Buddy System. This multilingual, intuitive, free, and secure web platform makes it easy to connect international students with local students. The registration process takes less than 5 minutes, allowing an international student to get in touch with a buddy in their city, receive support services, and participate in events.

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Buddy system, the international mentorship platform of the ESN network

Other mentoring programs

Other mentoring systems are offered on campuses by higher education institutions and student associations. For example, in the cities of Montpellier, Nîmes, and Perpignan, newly arrived international students can participate in a shared international mentoring program set up by the universities and the CROUS (regional student services center).

Check with your host institution to see if a sponsorship system is available to you upon your arrival.

International student sponsorship programs are also listed in the city information sheets.