ISS Trips provide opportunities for students to learn about, engage in, and establish connections to the WNY community.  Additionally, participants can create connections with other UB students while engaging in a shared activity.

ISS trips are open to all UB students (international and U.S./domestic).

Join us for this trip as we enjoy a 1.5-hour sail around Lake Erie and the Buffalo Harbor aboard the Moondance Catamaran. Afterwards, we will explore the Naval History Museum located at Buffalo Canalside. 

Visit Letchworth State Park, where you can explore nature trails and enjoy the beautiful historic sites at the park on your own, and at your own pace.

Experience a true slice of American and Canadian culture. Join us as we cheer on the Buffalo Sabres, our hometown NHL team, in a high-energy, action-packed hockey game. After the game, we will take a group photo at center ice. Whether you're new to hockey or a longtime fan, this is your chance to feel the excitement and make unforgettable memories.

"Fika" is a Swedish tradition of taking a break to relax and connect with others while also enjoying some tasty treats. The Let's Fika! activities are excellent opportunities for international and internationally-minded students to meet for conversation, games, crafts, etc., while enjoying a treat and a beverage.

We welcome international and domestic students from across the campus to join us at our Let's Fika! activities.

Play games, have great conversations, and have lots of fun, while making friends from around the world. Come to relax and play non-competitive, get-to-know-you games that allow you to form cross-cultural friendships. These events are open to all UB international and domestic students from all cultures and backgrounds.

Visit the Friends Without Borders webpage for more information.

This program is facilitated by UB Counseling Services.

The Graduate International Transition Series is designed to facilitate the academic, social, cultural, and professional adjustment of new international graduate students at UB through opportunities for skill-building, community development, and resource navigation during students’ critical first semester.  

Do you know about lease clauses, tenant rights, security deposits and what landlords can and cannot ask for? Join us for a 90-minute workshop that gives you the practical knowledge to navigate housing. Free lunch included with RSVP.

Do you know the difference between urgent care and the Emergency Room?  What is deductible?  What are in-network providers versus out-of-network providers? Knowing the answers to these questions and more can save you from an expensive healthcare bill. This workshop provides you with the map of the U.S. healthcare system before you need it: how your insurance works, what key terms mean, and how to navigate the U.S. healthcare system without costly surprises. Free lunch included with RSVP..

Living and studying in the United States can bring new experiences with race, identity, culture, and belonging. This workshop designed to help international students better understand how race and racism are experienced and discussed in the U.S. The workshop will provide you with the vocabulary to understand racialization, microaggressions, and code-switching, and the confidence to navigate academic spaces as your full self. Free lunch included with RSVP.

Science says you need friends. Graduate school can sometimes have a way of making you forget that. This workshop helps you find connections amongst fellow international and domestic students, rediscover what brings you joy outside your research, and yes, schedule fun into your Outlook calendar. Because your degree is one slice of your life, not the whole of it. Come ready to laugh, connect, and leave with a real plan. Free lunch included with RSVP.