The International Neighbors Program supports Carnegie Mellon's university-wide commitment to cultivate a vibrant, engaged community by creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue and cross-cultural connections.
The program provides informal opportunities for international undergraduate and graduate students (ages 18+) to connect with volunteer hosts from the Carnegie Mellon community. Students and hosts meet at least once a month throughout the academic year to build relationships, share experiences and learn from one another. Once paired, hosts and students work together to determine meeting times that fit their schedules. Individuals and families are welcome to participate as hosts.
The program gives international students the opportunity to connect with members of the CMU community, explore Pittsburgh and experience local culture beyond campus.
Please note that this is not a homestay program.
How It Works
Application Process
- CMU students and local hosts (often faculty and staff), submit applications and sign release forms.
- Students are matched with host individuals or families based on shared interests and availability.
- Once matched, student and hosts contact each other directly to arrange their meetings.
Participation Expectations
- Participants are asked to commit to meet at least once a month during the academic year.
- Activities may include getting coffee or tea, museum visits, shopping trips, home-cooked meals or other informal meet-ups.
- Hosts provide transportation for activities that take place off campus.
- Hosts matched with multiple students may meet with students individually or as a group.
- Flexibility is key, because students have busy schedules, offering several possible dates and times is usually the most effective way to plan activities.
- The volunteer commitment lasts one academic year, with the option for hosts and students to continue the relationship beyond that.
Additional Information
- Hosts may support students during finals by sending care packages with snacks, toiletries or school supplies.
- The number of students matched depends on the number of available hosts; if demand exceeds capacity, students are selected through a lottery.
Benefits
International students will have the opportunity to:
- Strengthen their English-language skills through conversations outside of the classroom.
- Form meaningful connections with hosts and build a deeper sense of belonging within the CMU community.
- Explore Pittsburgh beyond the campus and gain a deeper understanding of local culture and traditions.
International Neighbor hosts will have the opportunity to:
- Build meaningful connections with students from around the world.
- Gain new perspectives through cultural exchange and shared experiences.
- Rediscover and appreciate the CMU community through a new lens.
- Serve as ambassadors for Pittsburgh and CMU.
“It is a pleasure to connect with CMU students (and currently, some of their family) through the program. With my family local, I have invited members of my family to meet students at some events and outings—it is a nice way to share more of what I do at Carnegie Mellon with them, and my family gets to learn more about the experience of the international community we have here in Pittsburgh. I also learn from the students in a more personal way—about their experience at CMU, their families and life experiences, etc.”
– Megan, CMU staff member, International Neighbor host since 2024
“I am way more appreciative of this experience than what I thought it would be. It gave me a new group of friends that had similar culture and spoke the same language, and my host family made it most welcoming for us. The events they held with good food, laughter, the time spent together and activities we did, really made me feel like family.
So I must say I got really lucky to have been paired with my host family, and met the other host students, and will stay in touch with all, even as we part ways. I do hope that students who want to meet new friends and learn about American culture will find out about this program and sign up!”
– June, graduate student in Engineering and Public Policy
Participate as an International Student
If you would like to be matched with a local host, please complete the application steps below. We encourage you to share details about your interests and the type of host/family you feel would be a good fit. While we do our best to make thoughtful matches, we ask that you remain flexible throughout the process.
Please note that the number of students we can match depends on the number of available hosts.
Application Requirements
- Complete the Google Form questionnaire.
- Submit the Student Participant Release (PDF) form. You may electronically complete the release and electronically sign it, or print, sign and scan the form and then email it to intlneighbors@andrew.cmu.edu.
Once we receive both your questionnaire and release form, we will contact you when a host becomes available. If we are unable to match you with a host, we will notify you and share information about other opportunities available to you.
Participate as an International Neighbors Host
If you would like to be matched with a CMU student, please complete the application steps below. We encourage you to share information about your interests and any considerations that may help us facilitate a positive match. While we work to make thoughtful and compatible matches, we ask that you remain flexible throughout the process.
Application Requirements
- Complete the Google Form questionnaire.
- Submit the Host Release (PDF) form. You may electronically sign the release form, or print, sign and scan the form and then email it to intlneighbors@andrew.cmu.edu.
After we receive both your questionnaire and release form, we will follow up with details about your student match.