Peer mentoring

Be mentored or be a mentor yourself. Students mentor other students. Peer means equals sharing what you know, your experience and support in developing specific skills or knowledge or just being someone to turn to. Usually more experienced students mentor first or second year students helping them develop their study skills, for example in researching sources more effectively, numeric and writing skills for particular courses or core modules.

Peer Mentoring Schemes

What's in it for you?

This kind of help makes it easier for students who want a mentor’s help to ask questions in a non-judgmental environment. Student mentors benefit by embedding their existing knowledge and skills by explaining to others.

Some students set up their own peer schemes to help themselves and their fellow students.

“The first thing my peer mentor helped me with was when I had to start writing essays for my coursework during the first term. I had no clue how to search for the electronic journals or books in the library!”

Student

Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) schemes

PAL is a student-to-student support service that gives you, as a student, the opportunity to improve your understanding of core modules. It provides the opportunity for the academic and personal development of not just the attendees but also the student PAL Leaders as well.

You can become a PAL leader if you do well on a module (usually meaning you achieve 65% or more) and have the confidence (after training) to assist your peers in supporting them understand the module. Student PAL leaders/mentors are paid.