Student mentoring
Students helping students
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Remember your first days at university? The excitement, the nerves?! As a more experienced student you are now ideally placed to support and encourage new students. Student mentoring brings together students to share their knowledge and experience in order to help each other progress. We provide training and a structure for more experienced students to help those new to the University. This is primarily achieved through study groups and small group mentoring, although options are also available for 1:1 mentoring. Options are also available to support students who wish to assist each other virtually for when they are based at another campus. The mentor network is currently recruiting new mentors to supplement those already working across the network.
What do mentors do?
Student mentors fulfil a number of roles, and are available to help students in a number of vital ways:
•Give encouragement to new students
•Provide insight in what to expect from study at university
•Offer general guidance and support throughout the first year
•Refer students to specialist staff and departments who can help
•Organise study groups
Why become a mentor?
Firstly, you will be helping new students. Mentors often say how satisfying this is for them. However, our mentors all find that the experience is also personally beneficial, helping the mentor to get more out of their own student experience. It is also a highly valued skill. Organisations want people who know how to be mentored, and how to mentor new people. By taking part you will develop experience and skills which are very transferable to work and community settings.
Who can become a mentor?
We are looking for all kinds of students to join the existing mentors. We are not necessarily looking for the most able students, only those who are capable students and most importantly are enthusiastic about their studies. As you will be mentoring new students we are looking for more experienced students. Students with all kinds of backgrounds are required. Everyone has something to bring as a mentor!
How do I become a mentor?
Firstly, apply online ( You will receive a brief telephone interview at a mutually convenient time. If accepted, you will be able to take part in a short training session with new mentors (usually provided by VC). After that you begin mentoring, usually at the start of the academic year. We sometimes match mentors with students requesting a mentor, and mentors also promote themselves to new students and often find people to mentor directly. A mentor coordinator is always available to support you in your work.
Contact information
Find out more from ) or at