What is the Buddy System?
Every semester, ESN Bern connects exchange and local students through the Buddy System. This project aims to bring people from all over the world together and create meaningful intercultural connections.
For exchange students, the Buddy System is a great way to get introduced to their new home for the coming months. Buddies help them experience Swiss culture, settle into life in Bern, and offer support if any questions or challenges arise during their stay.
For local students, being a Buddy means supporting an exchange student, spending time together, and participating in shared activities. In return, you’ll learn about different countries and cultures and you might even make a lifelong friend. Being a Buddy is an easy and rewarding way to experience international exchange.
Interested? Spring Semester 2026
- Matching takes place at the end of January / beginning of February
- You can already register now
- Registration deadline: 16 February 2026
There will be a Buddy Meetup Event on 17 February (evening), where exchange students and their buddies meet for the first time.
Please register early to make sure you are matched in time to participate.
How to Become a Buddy
For detailed information, please check our info sheets:
- Incoming Students:
Open info sheet for incoming students - Local Students:
Open info sheet for local students
Registration via Papaya (ESN Platform)
To take part in the Buddy Project, register on the Papaya (ESN) platform:
You can register via the website, or by downloading the Papaya App (Google Play Store or Apple App Store).
Sign-up process:
- Sign up using Facebook, Google, or Apple, which will directly take you to your profile setup
- Alternatively, sign up via email
- In this case, you will need to wait for your registration to be approved
- Once approved, you will receive an email with your password to log in and complete your profile
- After logging in, subscribe to the project “Buddy System”, which you can find on your start page
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