{"id":65793,"date":"2026-02-05T13:21:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T12:21:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.docsity.com\/en\/?p=65793"},"modified":"2026-02-05T13:21:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T12:21:18","slug":"feeling-at-home-far-from-home-how-the-university-of-milan-welcomes-international-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.docsity.com\/en\/news-universities\/feeling-at-home-far-from-home-how-the-university-of-milan-welcomes-international-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Feeling at home, far from home: how the University of Milan welcomes international students"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For many students, studying abroad is the first real leap into the unknown. New country, new language, new systems, new rules. Between visas, accommodation, and cultural adjustment, it\u2019s easy to feel that the \u201cadventure\u201d of international education starts with a long list of question marks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the University of Milan (UniMI)<\/strong><\/a>, that first step is not something students are expected to take alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A peer-to-peer compass: the Welcome Desk<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

UniMI\u2019s Welcome Desk<\/strong><\/a> is designed with a simple but powerful idea in mind: sometimes, the people who can help you most are those who have stood exactly where you are now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Run in close connection with the university\u2019s International Student Offices, the Welcome Desk is a peer-to-peer support service<\/strong> where students help other students navigate the key aspects of life and study in Milan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From visa procedures to enrolment steps, from understanding scholarships and housing options, the Welcome Desk acts as a human bridge between information and experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s practical, yes, but it\u2019s also reassuring. Because the first \u201cwelcome\u201d you receive is not just institutional: it\u2019s personal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Welcome Day: a great hall, and a greater sense of belonging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

UniMI opens the doors of its historic Great Hall for a tradition that has become a milestone in many students\u2019 journeys: Welcome Day for international freshmen<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year, the event brought together over 2,000 new international students<\/strong>. Offices, services and student associations took the stage to introduce themselves, answer questions, and put faces and voices to the structures that will support students throughout their time at UniMI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Welcome Day is more than a presentation. It includes a guided tour of the main campus and a convivial aperitivo<\/strong>, turning an institutional moment into an opportunity for connection. It is often the day when strangers become classmates, and a large university starts to feel like a community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buddies Pilot Programme<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Launched within the Master\u2019s Degree in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology \u2013 Pharmacogenomics and Precision Therapeutics<\/strong><\/a>, the Buddies initiative pairs international students with motivated peers who act as friendly tutors and guides. From study tips to navigating campus life, your Buddy helps you feel at home from day one. The programme will soon expand to all English\u2011taught Master\u2019s programmes<\/strong><\/a> at the University of Milan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Campus tours: a first glimpse of life as a UniMI student<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The university\u2019s commitment to international openness begins even earlier, with campus tours for groups of prospective students<\/strong><\/a>, from high schools and universities in countries such as Greece, Turkey, the USA, Brazil, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Denmark and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These visits can include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n