Global Grads Connect: Creating Community for International Graduate Students
Student Wellbeing is delighted to announce a new initiative for Fall 2025, Global Grads Connect: Creating Community for International Graduate Students.
This program pairs incoming first-year international grad students with upper-year international grad students who will serve as companions and guides throughout the semester. Through these connections, students can build friendships, receive support, and gain insights into navigating life at BU!
To start, this initiative is open to all international graduate students on the Boston University Medical Campus (BUMC).
Sign-up here for Upper Year Students!
Sign-up here for First-Year Students!
Program Details
Matches are made based on shared commitment, intentionality, and other preferences indicated in the sign-up form. Once paired, students will be introduced via email and can choose their preferred mode and frequency of communication. Whether you meet up for coffee, study together, talk about cultural adjustment, or simply hang out, the connection is what you make of it!
In addition to the one-on-one companion matches, the program will host monthly Cultural Mosaic events, welcoming, informal gatherings that give students a chance to meet others from across schools, share their cultures, and build community in a relaxed setting.
Program History
This program was founded by Manasa Sivakumar (SPH ’26), who won second place in BU’s $12.5k Student Wellbeing Competition for pitching this idea. As an international graduate student herself, she saw a need for more intentional opportunities for international students to connect across the university.
Her vision is to create a space where students can support each other, build friendships, and feel a sense of belonging. With the support of Student Wellbeing, the program is now open to students across the BUMC community.