Since 2011 our medical students manage a successful buddy system. Your buddy will welcome you at our Faculty, help you to meet local students, show you around and answer all the questions you might have. The Buddy System Coordinator, a local Belgian medical student, will contact you before your arrival in Antwerp with all details concerning the buddy system.

The Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy programme has a separate buddy system for its international degree and exchange students since 2017. 

EMSA-Antwerp is the local branch of the European Medical Students’ Association (EMSA-Europe). It is an international organisation that stimulates contacts between medical students from different countries. EMSA-Antwerp organises different activities throughout the year such as an international congress, benefit performances, Movies&Medicine and the Teddy Bear Hospital.

The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is an international student organisation that represents international students and provides opportunities for cultural understanding and self-development. The website and Facebook page of the Antwerp division of this network (ESN-Antwerp) contains a lot of useful information to prepare your stay in Antwerp.

At the beginning of each semester, the UAntwerp International Relations Office welcomes all exchange students during the Orientation Days. All you need to know about the university, living and studying in Antwerp will be explained to you. It is also an excellent opportunity to meet other international students.

The International Students Office organises a Welcome week for international degree students in September. This programme will help you to get to know the University of Antwerp and its facilities, and to meet other international students.

Finally, the Dean, the Faculty Director and the Chair of the Internationalisation Commission of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences welcome all international students during a reception at the start of each semester. 

​MONDO aims to create a social network for foreign staff members, PhD and degree students and their family members. It wants to strengthen social cohesion in our university and help all foreign students and staff become better acquainted with the country in which they live and work by undertaking activities together. Throughout the year MONDO organises monthly social activities targeted at international staff and students. 

MONDO is a joint initiative of the International Staff Office, the International Students Office and the Antwerp Doctoral School of the UAntwerp.

Visit MONDO's Facebook group to stay informed about the activities but also about events that take place in and around Antwerp.