![[Translate to Englisch:] Internationale Studierende an der KU](/fileadmin/_processed_/3/4/csm_InternationaleStudierendeSoSe2024_ChristianKlenk-3_6d8e506368.jpg)
A part of our international students was paid a traditional welcome by District Administrator Alexander Anetsberger and Eichstätt's Mayor Josef Grienberger at a festive reception in the Spiegelsaal at the Eichstätt Residenz on Tuesday evening. In their speeches, both highlighted the outstanding study conditions at the KU and the attractive environment of the city and region. KU Vice President for International Affairs, Prof. Dr. Klaus Stüwe, and the Head of the International Office, Dr. Anna Marcos, also welcomed the international students.
The proportion of foreign students at the KU averages around 15 percent, many of whom are so-called incoming students who spend a semester at the KU. International program students who started their studies at the KU in the summer semester come from 29 countries. Italy, India, the USA, France and Mexico top the list of countries of origin. Most of the international students are enrolled at the Ingolstadt School of Management, the KU’s business and economics faculty. The double degree programs are still very popular among them: The students who come to the KU for this program earn a double degree both at the KU and at a university abroad. The KU offers these double-degree programs in areas such as business administration or, e.g. as a Master's program in "Intercultural Advertising".
Both the team of the KU International Office and the International Student Working Group, a team of currently five students, take care of our new international students. The working group coordinates a buddy program in which every international student is paired with a KU student. "Our students are so committed to participate in the buddy program that we couldn't consider them all this year", says Jessica Hofmacher from the International Office. The International Student Working Group also supports our internationals when they move in and hand over their rooms, looks after and trains the buddies, asks about their wishes and needs for social activities and makes sure that homesickness does not become too much of an issue. Social media also plays a major role, of course, and there is a Whatsapp group for each campus.
For our international students, the first week of lectures is all about settling in. In addition to the welcome events, the program includes a city tour and an intercultural workshop.