We had a fantastic time welcoming our first cohort of new students for the 2023 academic year.

This intake was extra special as it coincided with the Luzern Carnival (Fasnacht) which gave our new arrivals a great chance to experience a unique aspect of Swiss culture.

Of course, as with all intakes, students flew in from all corners of the globe to join our international family here in Kastanienbaum.

Graphic: Student nationality overview for our 2023A term

After a busy weekend of arrivals where our new students were transported from Zurich airport to campus, Monday saw the start of our BIG Week induction.

Students got the chance to meet their lecturers, enjoy guided tours of the campus, try on their new uniforms as well as receiving dedicated academic resources and library sessions.

They were also introduced to the culture and traditions of their new home country with a special Swissness workshop session where they had the chance to practise some useful Swiss-German words and phrases.

With so much information to take in, we also had to make some time for the social side of life at IMI.

Luckily, some of our current Social Representative Committee members were on-hand to explain to the new students about the various activities, trip and other fun events that they help to organise throughout the semester.

The social highlight of the week though was undoubtedly getting to experience the Fasnacht carnival first-hand.

An annual event that lasts for six days and involves massive parades throughout the city of Luzern, elaborate costumes, traditional guggenmusik performances and general fun and revelry throughout the city, the carnival celebrates the end of Winter.

Our new students were able to enjoy a full afternoon of parades on the Thursday of BIG Week and we were delighted to see that some of them even had procured some costumes of their own.

A fantastic way to start their time in Switzerland – we wish them all a great study semester ahead!