What is Peer Mentoring?

Two students studying together in the Paul Hamlyn Library.

Peer Mentoring is an opportunity for you to be paired with a student who has completed a year or more of study at UWL. By sharing their experience of UWL and their course, a Peer Mentor can help you gain a greater understanding of what is required and give you a clearer insight into what lies ahead.

Traditionally pairings have been made based on students' course and level of study. However, following the expansion of the Peer Mentoring Scheme students can request to join a specific branch within Peer Mentoring. This includes our Wellbeing, International, Black and Mixed Heritage, Shared Lived Experience and Final Year Mentoring branches.

Where possible, there are other shared lived experiences that can be considered during the pairing process such as age, gender, ethnicity and parental status. Students are able to make these requests whilst registering or applying to be a part of the Peer Mentoring Scheme.

Types of Peer Mentoring at UWL

Two students talking while they walk through the reception at UWL's Ealing sit

These are the mentoring branches currently available at UWL:

  • Traditional - Paired based on course and level of study. This is usually the basis of pairings.
  • Wellbeing - Paired based on both students studying with a wellbeing need.*
  • International - Paired with another student who has also travelled to the UK to study.*
  • Black and Mixed Heritage - Paired with another student who is the same ethnicity.*
  • Shared Lived Experiences - Paired based on shared personal factors and not necessarily by course or level of study.
  • Final Year - Paired as a final year student with a UWL graduate. Only accessible to Level 6 and 7 students – sign-up here

*Peer Mentors are usually students studying the same course at a level above their Mentee.

Volunteering as a Peer Mentor can empower you to use your student experience to help other students develop key skills and build their confidence at UWL.

As a Mentee, you will have the opportunity to have regular sessions with another student who is studying at a level above you and can help you gain the maximum from your university experience.

Becoming a Peer Mentor

Follow these steps to become a Peer Mentor:

  1. Express your interest: Complete the application form or book onto a training session.
  2. Attend a training session: See the list below for upcoming training dates. If the application form has not been completed this will be sent to you after the session.
  3. Await review: The Peer Mentoring Scheme will review your form and begin the pairing process.
  4. Meet your Mentee: Once an appropriate pairing is decided you will be introduced to your Mentee via email.
A student working on a laptop.

If you have completed at least one year of study at UWL you can volunteer to become a Peer Mentor.

Training is provided and you can then use your experiences to help another student reach their potential and optimise their time at UWL. Being a Peer Mentor is flexible and can fit around your schedule. We believe everyone’s experience is valuable: regardless of your grades, you can have a positive impact on another student.

With your experience, you can help new students gain a better understanding of what to expect, discuss topic areas, enhance key skills over the academic year and feel part of the UWL community. 

Quote

The Peer Mentor training taught me what to expect, provided me with great conversation starters, and taught me all the rules I needed to know. I began feeling ready and prepared to help our new students."

Maddie Ramsey, Peer Mentor

Request support from a Peer Mentor

Follow these steps to become a Mentee:

  1. Express your interest: Complete the application form.
  2. Receive the key information about the mentoring expectations: By attending a Mentee Information Session (see the list below for upcoming mentee information session dates) or by having a phone call with a member of the Peer Mentoring Team.
  3. Await review: The Peer Mentoring Team will review your form and begin the pairing process.
  4. Meet your Peer Mentor: Once an appropriate pairing is decided you will be introduced to your Peer Mentor via email.
A student helping another student on a laptop.

As a UWL student you have access to the Peer Mentoring Scheme regardless of your level of study. Whether you are studying in a foundation year, first year or second year you can receive support from a Peer Mentor.

We also offer Final Year Mentoring, which pairs final year students with a UWL graduate who can provide insight into life after graduation. These Mentors could be working in your chosen field of study and can offer career insights and advice.  

Student experiences of Peer Mentoring

Student - Merve Arslan

It was a really positive experience for me and helped me with my work, giving me more perspective on my assessments and someone to proofread it which was really helpful."

- Merve Arslan

Read more

Ella Jupp (student)

Being able to get advice from someone who’s been where I am has been so helpful and has really put my mind at ease about what to expect as I start placements."

- Ella Jupp

Find out more

Coleen Cocles (student)

After I went to the presentation I knew I wanted to mentor others, it was a great idea and has helped me greatly."

- Coleen Cocles

Find out more

Miroslav Spaniel (student)

Mentoring has made me more confident and helped me to understand the system. It also gave me an opportunity to talk about my career goals and plans and understand what’s possible so I could set realistic goals."

- Miroslav Spaniel

Find out more

A student wearing a yellow jumper sitting at a table by a window using a laptop

Once I saw how much difference Mentors made I knew I wanted to give back and began mentoring others once I started my degree course. Four years on, and I am still in touch with my previous Mentees and offering that help."

- Alessio Di Vito

Find out more

Student - Merve Arslan

It was a really positive experience for me and helped me with my work, giving me more perspective on my assessments and someone to proofread it which was really helpful."

- Merve Arslan

Read more

Ella Jupp (student)

Being able to get advice from someone who’s been where I am has been so helpful and has really put my mind at ease about what to expect as I start placements."

- Ella Jupp

Find out more

Coleen Cocles (student)

After I went to the presentation I knew I wanted to mentor others, it was a great idea and has helped me greatly."

- Coleen Cocles

Find out more

Miroslav Spaniel (student)

Mentoring has made me more confident and helped me to understand the system. It also gave me an opportunity to talk about my career goals and plans and understand what’s possible so I could set realistic goals."

- Miroslav Spaniel

Find out more

A student wearing a yellow jumper sitting at a table by a window using a laptop

Once I saw how much difference Mentors made I knew I wanted to give back and began mentoring others once I started my degree course. Four years on, and I am still in touch with my previous Mentees and offering that help."

- Alessio Di Vito

Find out more

Student - Merve Arslan
Ella Jupp (student)
Coleen Cocles (student)
Miroslav Spaniel (student)
A student wearing a yellow jumper sitting at a table by a window using a laptop
Student - Merve Arslan
Ella Jupp (student)
Coleen Cocles (student)
Miroslav Spaniel (student)
A student wearing a yellow jumper sitting at a table by a window using a laptop

Awards and certificates

A woman celebrating in front of her laptop

Peer Mentoring Certificate

All students who volunteer as a Peer Mentor will be awarded a volunteering certificate. 

Peer Mentors who complete ten hours of Peer Mentoring will be awarded a volunteering certificate. Any verified hours on top of that can be put forward for one of the below awards:

  • Bronze award – 25 hours or more
  • Silver Award – 50 hours or more
  • Gold Award – 100 hours or more
  • Platinum Award – 200 hours or more. 

For example, if you have completed 35 hours of Peer Mentoring, you will be awarded a Peer Mentoring award and a Bronze award.

Awards

Students are able be nominated to receive a Peer Mentor of the Year Award. A Peer Mentor can nominate themselves or be nominated by other students.  

Previous winners of this award:

  • Isha Balliston - BNursing (Hons) Adult Nursing

    Quote from Mentee:

    She has been the biggest form of support I've had from the University, helping with all my worries and queries along the way. She has been there the whole time, and my first year of uni would not have been the same without her help. I can't thank her enough."

  • Katelyn Oakley - BNursing (Hons) Children's Nursing

    Quote from Mentee:

    She always checks up on me to ensure I'm doing ok. She has supported me immensely every day in everything I asked her or wanted to know, whether it be wanting to know about placement, modules, academic work, my writing, etc. She has also given me hours of her time on specific days when I felt low, which allowed me to successfully complete my work due to her emotional support."

Additional support

A student in a lecture room smiling.

Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS)

Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) are weekly study sessions for Level 4 students, led by PASS Leaders who are Level 5 or 6 students studying the same course. The Peer Mentoring Scheme coordinate PASS at UWL. It is an initiative that gives students the opportunity to learn collaboratively with their peers.

FAQs

FAQs for Peer Mentors

FAQs for Mentees