Incoming international exchange students received a warm welcome from Queen’s University ahead of the start of the winter term.

Queen’s University International Centre (QUIC), along with representatives of the academic faculties, provided a day of orientation events for the students on Sunday, Jan. 3, to help them settle in at the university as well as Kingston.

There were presentations on life at the university and where to find the resources that an international student may need, as well as some basics on living in the community and health insurance.

While the freezing temperatures were late in arriving this year, for many of the students from warmer locales, the Canadian winter can be daunting. In order to give them a warm start, participating students could choose between tri-colour mittens and scarves that were donated by the Campus Bookstore. 

QUIC offered extended hours on Saturday and Sunday to provide support for the newly-arriving students and their families and is offering a series of activities throughout the first week of classes to assist with settling in. 

Justin Kerr, an International Student Adviser with QUIC, said that more than 200 new international exchange students are beginning their studies at Queen’s in January, including undergraduate and graduate students.