1,700 students take part in the UGR’s Induction Days for International Students

Wed, 09/11/2019 - 12:34

11/09/2019

A group of international students in a lecture theatre

The induction sessions took place between 4 to 10 September
The University of Granada will receive over 1,700 international students in the first semester of the academic year 2019-2020.

This academic year, more than 2,600 new international students from over 70 countries will complete studies at the University of Granada, thanks to the UGR’s active participation in an extensive range of international mobility programmes. Approximately 1,700 of these students will initiate their studies at the UGR in the first semester, while the remainder will join our university in the second semester.

Moving to a new study destination can sometimes be a daunting prospect, presenting new challenges and giving rise to new learning environments. The University of Granada runs Induction Days in September and January/February every year to give our new international students a warm welcome, help them to get their bearings and adjust to university life in Granada. The sessions are full of opportunities to meet new people, obtain essential information and tips, and tackle important tasks such as their enrolment on courses and accommodation options.

During the sessions, we provide useful information on everything from registering, obtaining the international student card, health cover and residence permits, to joining student societies, volunteering and making the most of the exceptional range of services available at the UGR. These include the Sports Centre (CAD), language courses offered at our Modern Languages Centre (CLM), and the "Casa de Porras" University Cultural Centre, which offers a wide range of recreational courses. Moreover, our Induction Days inform students about the cultural activities—including concerts, exhibitions, and theatre productions— that are held throughout the year. All of these information sessions are conducted simultaneously in English and Spanish.

Additionally, as part of the Induction Days, the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) schedules an introductory meeting to showcase all of the services and activities they offer to our international community — an excellent opportunity for students to network and get to know one another. The ESN also organise a language tandem, a cultural gymkhana, and guided tours of the Albaicín quarter (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and to some of the city’s most important historical sites.

On Friday 6 September an official welcome event was held at the "Parque de las Ciencias" Science Museum, during which representatives from the Vice-Rectorate for Internationalization delivered speeches and held information sessions. This was followed by a string quartet concert performed by the Orchestra of the University of Granada (OUGR). Participants also had the opportunity to go on a free guided tour of the Science Museum.

The UGR continues to receive more incoming Erasmus students than any other European institution, a position it has maintained for over a decade. We also send more students abroad on Erasmus exchange programmes than any other European University. The Induction Days for International Students are just one of the key activities organised within the framework of the University of Granada’s Internationalization Strategy, alongside other initiatives such as our Mentor Programme. By offering incoming students top-class services like the Induction Days and Mentor Programme, our University reinforces its leading role as a welcoming and cosmopolitan study destination and maintains its commitment to offering international students a unique and enriching experience.