Buddy Programme Umeå University

20/03/2026

Mental Health Week on Campus! 🙌

Next week is Umeå Student Union's annual Mental Health Week.

🥞Free breakfast!
🎙️Free lectures!
🤸‍♀️Free activities

👉 ALL week on Campus!

The week ends with a Nydala BBQ hosted by the Buddy Programme. What's not to love?

All activities can be adapted for English speakers, and the lecture by Joakim from Student Health Services is entirely in English (first 10 people to show up gets FREE movie tickets).

We will have a booth open in Lindell between 10-15 every day during the week. Come by to grab som coffe, stickers and chat with us 🤩

Learn more here: https://en.umeastudentkar.se/hej-hur-mar-du/

See you there!
/Lovisa Gavelin
International Coordinator
International Office, UMU

11/03/2026

03/03/2026

This week, Umeå is celebrating Sami week - an annual culture festival! Since December, Umeå has a sami (umesamiskt) name. Now it is official - with the first ever road sign. Learn more about the sami week in the post below or visit https://visitumea.se/en/sami-week-ubmejen-biejvieh ❤️💚💛💙

/Lovisa Gavelin
International Koordinator

04/02/2026

🎉 Health on Campus – Wednesday 18 February 2026 🎉

Have you ever wanted to try archery, skiing, chess, gospel singing, bouldering, or even cold-water swimming? Now’s your chance!

Registration for Health on Campus opens today! (4-16 february)
This event is organized once every semester by the Umeå School of Sport Sciences, offering students and staff a full day of fun activities, sports, and inspiring lectures—many of which you may never have tried before.

🔹 Half of the activities require pre-registration
🔹 Half are drop-in and open to everyone

Don’t wait—spots fill up quickly! Register here:

👉 Activities requiring pre-registration:
https://www.umu.se/en/umea-school-of-sport-sciences/health-on-campus/health-on-campus---aktiviteter-med-foranmalan/

👉 Drop-in activities:
https://www.umu.se/en/umea-school-of-sport-sciences/health-on-campus/health-on-campus---drop-in-activities/

We hope to see you there! 🌟

Lovisa Gavelin
International Coordinator
International Office

02/12/2025

A couple of weeks ago, 8-9 november 2025, the Buddy Programme visited Älgens Hus (Moose Farm) in Bjurholm 🫎 A total of 200 students, over two days, got to pet the moose, feed them and eat delicious food!

We got to learn more about moose and we even got to meet the "teenagers" (who were newborns the last time the Buddy Programme visited the Moose Farm).

A big thank you to international student Jonah van Kessel for taking these wonderful pictures! 🤩

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Join the Buddy Programme in 2026, to get the chance to join more magical activities! Sign up now! 👇

Link for international students, spring 2026: https://forms.office.com/e/9FQ1uuqR7A
Link for buddies, spring 2026: https://forms.office.com/e/V4wYf7MTC3

(Note that you must register every semester, if you are staying for more than one. Internationals who have been in Umeå for one semester or more can sign up to be buddies, if they want to)

19/09/2025

For the first time ever - Pride on Campus at Umeå University!

We’re thrilled to announce that Umeå University is hosting Pride on Campus all next week – September 22–27, 2025. You won’t want to miss this celebration of diversity, inclusion, and community!

✨ What’s happening?
A vibrant week filled with inspiring lectures, creative workshops, cozy meetups, and Pride spirit all around campus!
(Note: Lectures are in Swedish)

📅 Event Highlights:
• Thursday, Sept 25: Pride-themed fika meetup hosted by the University Chaplaincy
• Friday, Sept 26: Pride hangout with a craft workshop (make your own pins!) + talk by RFSU
• Saturday, Sept 27: Umeå University joins the Umeå Pride Parade!
• Sept 22 – Oct 3: LGBTQI literature displays at all university libraries – check out the Medical Library, Arts Campus Library, and University Library

Link to the UMu webpage: https://www.umu.se/om-umea-universitet/nyheter-och-evenemang/pride-pa-campus/
Link to the event on Facebook: https://fb.me/e/6LXC2sx7t

🎉 Pride on Campus runs alongside Umepride, the largest Pride festival in northern Sweden, happening Sept 26–28. Explore the full festival program at www.umepride.com

📌 Please note: This is not a Buddy Programme activity. The programme is set by Umeå University, with contributions from scholars and organizations.

I’ll be attending all events – hope to see you there!

/ Lovisa Gavelin
Buddy Programme Coordinator

15/09/2025

🎉 SIGN UP FOR HEALTH ON CAMPUS – TODAY AT 13:00 IS THE LAST CHANCE! 🎉

Ready to dance afrobeat, play badminton, try martial arts, go fishing, explore mushrooms, and much more? Want to do it completely free of charge? 🤩

Health on Campus, hosted by Umeå School of Sport Sciences, is back! Join this Wednesday, 17th September for a full day of fun, movement, and inspiration.

✅ Some activities require sign-up
✅ Others are drop-in
📅 Deadline to sign up: TODAY (Monday 15th)
🌍 All activities are adapted for English speakers
🎓 Lectures are held in either English or Swedish

After the amazing brännboll tournament with the Buddy Programme, I know you're ready to keep the energy going! Don’t miss out – this is your chance to try something new, meet people, and boost your well-being.

👉 Sign up now and secure your spot!

Learn more here:
https://www.umu.se/en/umea-school-of-sport-sciences/health-on-campus/

NOTE: This is not a buddy-programme activity. The programme is set by Umeå School of Sport Sciences and the activities/lectures are held by different scholars and organizations.

See you there!

/Lovisa Gavelin
Buddy Programme Coordinator

13/08/2025

Hi everyone!

My name is Lovisa and I am the buddy programme coordinator at Umeå university 2025-2026. I am taking over after Valentine, who did a fantastic job last year! Here’s a little bit about me:

I was born in Kiruna with midnight sun, northern lights, reindeer and mountains!🦌 However, I was raised in Stockholm and eventually - I found home here in Umeå! I have been involved in the buddy programme before (as a buddy) which lead me to go on an exchange to Keele university in the UK last year!

These experiences; being raised in two different Swedish cultures, moving to Umeå by myself, being part of the buddy programme and moving abroad made me want to share my experiences and create the amazing student life I've had - for others.

If you are interested in joining the buddy programme, feel free to add me on Facebook:
https://shorturl.at/J1MnF

Sign up to join the Buddy Programme (if you have not already done this):
https://forms.office.com/e/s1xZ6reV56

If you are a returning international or a Swedish student, sign up to become a buddy here:
https://forms.office.com/e/h9LFDqYJa1

All the buddies will be receiving more information via email next week 😊

I will see you at the pre-arrival meeting (ZOOM) 20th of August and at Orientation 27th of August in Aula Nordica. I will also be available during our arrival days 25-26th of August to answer any questions!

If you need more information about these important dates, follow the links below:

Arrival days https://shorturl.at/oQ4Hb
Orientation for new international students https://shorturl.at/69UKc

I am so excited to finally get to meet all our international students and buddies. I wish everyone safe travels! Welcome to Umeå ✈️

23/06/2025

All good things must come to an end for better things to come! ✨

It feels weird to tell myself I am writing my last post on this page. This year was truly wonderful and all of you played a big part in it. I couldn’t have done it without your joy, love and interest! I truly hope you enjoyed your time in the Buddy Programme and in Umeå; I know it is the case for most of you!
Whether you were one of my kidz, buddy or someone that was involved in any way with the Buddy Programme, thank you! 🥰

I am myself leaving Umeå and Sweden after three amazing years for new adventures. Umeå and the people will stay in my heart and mind wherever I go. 😌
For whoever feels lost right now, as I myself was at the end of my exchange: breath, good things are coming to you! 🤭

The Buddy Programme is now on summer break until Lovisa starts as the coordinator in August; she will answer the emails sent to [email protected]. If you would like to join the Buddy Programme next semester, follow the link in the “Join us” highlight.

These three pictures are from major events of my time in Umeå:
1st: My 6th time at the Moose Farm, I might have a world record now, May 2025. 🫎
2nd: One step closer to becoming Swedish by being a student marshal at the Graduation Ceremony, May 2025.
3rd: My first Orientation and first few hours in Umeå, August 2022.

Take care! Bisous,
Valentine Dubois :))

02/06/2025

A few weeks ago our students’ favourite activity finally came: The day trip to the Moose Farm! 🫎

On the 10th and 11th of May, 150 students visited the Moose Farm in Bjurholm. After a good meal, the students enjoyed a cuddling session with the moose. Many were impressed by the so-called “King of the Forest”, especially because of their fuzzy antlers and their massive size. They left the Moose Farm with many memories and a whole new knowledge on moose (who knew moose love banana?)! 😊

On Sunday, the students were surprised to meet the newborn calves, born a few hours earlier. Their long legs and small noises made everyone’s heart melt, and created a truly magical moment which will stay in their mind forever. 💫

/Valentine, Buddy Coordinator

08/04/2025

The beach volleyball tournament, or BBT for short was once again a success!

This semester 18 teams took part in the tournament and delivered some intense games in front of a large crowd of cheerleaders!
Congratulations to “Vibes Only” who won by one point the tournament in a fierce final game against “Carbonara Almost Ready”.

Thanks to everyone who showed up to cheer and play!! Stay tuned for another tournament 🤭
/ Valentine, buddy coordinator

06/02/2025

Last Saturday, the students took part into a Team Building Day which ended with an International Pub to celebrate! 🌟

The fourteen buddy groups competed against each other through different mini-games such as Rock, Paper, Scissors or even a snowball fight! Team Building is always a favorite among our international students as it allows people to meet each other in a fun way and create a strong team spirit!

Congratulation to group 11 who won, and big thanks to all the participants, you all did great! :)

/Valentine, Buddy Coordinator