Media Releases >  Media Releases Archive  > International students made to feel at home at SFU

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Contact:
Carolyn Long, SFU International, 604.291.4232
Michelle D'Mello, international student from India (former group leader of the SFU International Buddy Program), 778.882.2489
Mojtaba Gharehbaghi, international student from Iran (former English bridge program student), 604.767.9948

This fall, Simon Fraser University will welcome more than 600 international students from more than 100 countries with a variety of programs designed to support their transition to a new social and academic climate.

“International students -- especially those new to Canada -- are often unsure about cultural expectations, and sometimes feel extremely isolated,” notes international student advisor Carolyn Long. “We make a real effort to help foreign students make a smooth adjustment to SFU and life in Canada.”

SFU International offers a special orientation program to address the unique challenges faced by international students, such as immigration requirements, medical insurance, and changes in academic culture. The English bridge program is available to students needing to perfect their academic language skills prior to starting their degree.

New students are “buddied” with student volunteers during the year, and are hosted during the holidays by members of the SFU community. An international student group also organizes a number of social events throughout the year. Non-academic counselling is always available through the health, counselling and career centre on campus.

The majority of SFU's foreign students arrive from Asia and the U.S. Among this year's international contingent are 120 exchange students from partner universities around the globe, and two refugee students from Burma and Ethiopia, sponsored by the World University Service of Canada and SFU.

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Websites:
SFU International: www.sfu.ca/international/
Health, Counselling & Career Centre: www.sfu.ca/hccc/
World University Service of Canada: www.wusc.ca/welcome/