Many advisory, networking and mentoring services at LMU rely on volunteer work by students. These support new or international students when they arrive, assist students with disabilities or help shape university life.
The LMU Student Council represents students' interests regarding university politics as well as everyday life at university. Members are elected to the Council, who then get to collaborate in working groups. The Council functions as the first contact for students with questions of all kinds — especially for those who are new.
The faculty representation is part of this Council. This body is responsible for coordinating students in their respective subject area and making them aware of the various initiatives available to them (organizing scripts, counseling, first semester introductions, and much more).
The International Office offers LMU students the opportunity to become an LMU Buddy for international study program students.
As an LMU Buddy, you can help students from all over the world to settle in and get around at LMU, while you gain first-hand intercultural experience in Munich.
If you have any questions or suggestions, you can always send us an email or a message to our Instagram account buddylmu.
Our photo competition for the summer semester 2024 has already ended. Information on the photo competition for the winter semester 2024/25 will be published shortly.
Please note our conditions of participation (PDF, 116 KB).
If you are interested in different cultures and like to meet new students, you've found your perfect match with us! A good LMU Buddy is not only committed but also has certain skills and core qualifications. They are:
The LMU Buddy Program is NOT a language tandem program. But if buddies would like to set up a tandem (independently of us), they are more than welcome. Usually, communication between buddies is in English or German.
Introductory course: To participate in the LMU Buddy Program, you must attend an introductory course once. These take place at the end of the semester or during the semester break. You will find the dates for these listed further below.
Allocation: The team responsible for the LMU Buddy Program allocate buddies during the semester break. Approximately three to four weeks before your lectures start, we will inform you by email regarding your buddy's name, country of origin and email address. Please note though that we can't promise you will get a buddy from your "desired country." Your buddy will receive your name and email address from us so that he/she can get in touch with you.
First contact: In your initial email you should introduce yourself (name, subjects, hobbies, etc.) and immediately show that you are interested in meeting your buddy in person.
Medical students have a separate Buddy Program. Please contact the International Office responsible for Medicine.
There are always three introductory courses for the LMU Buddy Program in the beginning of each semester (online, via Zoom). If you are participating for the first time, you must attend one of these dates.
| Type of event | Date | Place |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory course | 2 October 2024, 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. | Zoom |
| Introductory course | 7 October 2024, 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. | Zoom |
| Introductory course | 15 October 2024, 7 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. | Zoom |
| Intercultural training for LMU buddies | tba | tba |
In addition to participating in these initiatives — which are centrally managed by LMU — you can, of course, also volunteer for one of the many student university groups such as country-specific groups, social or religious initiatives, or student magazines.
Europa macht Schule brings Europe into the classroom: In this initiative — which takes place Germany-wide — European exchange students present their home country at German schools in a project they can design themselves. The project targets exchange students of all subject areas and multiple school types. By volunteering, students can gain experience in the areas of teamwork, project management and intercultural competence.
What is special about this initiative is the enthusiasm that all participants show when it comes to building bridges. European students spending a semester abroad can establish contacts with German pupils and students as well as with the schools and teachers involved. Through projects such as this, different European lifestyles and educational systems come a tiny bit closer to one another. Europa macht Schule brings European exchanges to life in Munich's classrooms.en Austausch auch in Münchner Klassenzimmern erfahrbar.
Contact and further information: muenchen@europamachtschule.de