International Student Buddy System
The success of studying in another country is largely dependent on how well you can adapt to and integrate into your new environment. To help you achieve this as quickly as possible, WIT has set up the International Student Buddy System. All new international and exchange students are invited to take part in our international student buddy system.
The International Student Buddy System is an Integration initiative aimed at welcoming new International students to Waterford Institute of Technology and helping them to adjust to their new life here in Waterford.
We will endeavour to pair new and existing International students with existing WIT students to answer queries, guide students around the campus facilities, to give students a sense of belonging and to enable students to become socially connected but most importantly to allow students to become integrated within the WIT community.
International Student Buddies support international students in the following ways:
● Communicating with international students to assist with any queries they may have.
● Providing general knowledge of the surrounding area and country.
● Helping International students become accustomed to student life at WIT.
● Working with the International Officer to hold events/trips.
● Providing a space for International students to raise queries.
Clubs and Societies
Clubs and societies are at the heart of social life at WIT. We have a tremendous history in sport and recreation with upward of 30 sports clubs and upwards of 25 societies registered each year so there's bound to be something for everyone. The WIT GAA Club is best known and most successful with it hurlers having won the Fitzgibbon Cup on nine occasions and WIT's camogie team won the Ashbourne Cup this year for the sixth time in a row and eighth time in total. Other sports that feature high in the Institute include; Ladies and Men's Football, Soccer, Rugby, Athletics and Basketball. There is also a lot of support for a wide range of other sports such as; Kayaking, Badminton, Judo and Sailing. These clubs have very strong membership bases and represent the Institute in Intervarsity competitions very successfully.
For more information check out our Clubs & Societies section for a full listing of current activity at WIT.
WIT Students’ Union
WIT’s students’ Union, known as WITSU, is there to support the educational, welfare and entertainment needs of all WIT students. The WITSU team is a breath of fresh air that consists of a group of easy going, fun and supportive student officers who are proactive in supporting the needs of WIT students.
The WITSU has a student officer dedicated to supporting international students, the WITSU International Officer. The WITSU International Officer aims to support International Students with any student life query they may have and by setting up events, such as group coffee breaks to help international students get to know one another or arranging outdoor events to help international students explore the surrounding areas.
Check out the WITSU website for further information.