The buddy system

Buddies are paired by the welfare team. Expect a message, a coffee or a walk, and help with the unglamorous bits: printers, prayer space, where the cheap shop is, how a society social actually feels before you walk in.

Who it helps: first years, international students, and anyone in a lonely patch. The named programme is Swansea BuddyUp.

What you can expect: light contact. Honesty if your buddy is busy. A new match if the first one does not fit. No romantic matchmaking and no pressure to attend every event.