Becoming a Peer Mentor can have a huge impact on your mentees, helping them settle into life and study at Bath, prepare to go on placement, start exercising regularly and more. Mentors come from all departments and levels of study at the University and are a valuable source of support for fellow students.
As a Peer Mentor you’ll receive general training and there will always be someone available to help and support you. Find out about the different kinds of peer mentor roles available below.
What does being a Peer Mentor involve?
Peer Mentors support new students in their department as they start their course. You can share your experience of the first year to answer questions and signpost appropriate support services to help students find the support they need. Mentors should maintain contact with their mentees throughout the year and departments also hold events where mentors can meet their mentees.
Why should I become a Peer Mentor?
Being a Peer Mentor is a great way to support new students and develop yourself. As a Peer Mentor, you can…
- …develop valuable skills that employers look for, including communication and listening skills, organisation and networking.
- …increase your confidence by helping others.
- …build a sense of community in your department by breaking down the barriers between year groups.
- …learn more about the support available in the University.
- …be invited to our annual celebration event.
Rhys' story 
Nefeli's story
How do I become a Peer Mentor?
Almost anyone can volunteer to be a peer mentor but generally peer mentors are second year students. However, if you are not in your second year and would like to volunteer don't let this stop you!
In order to become a Peer Mentor, you need to sign up to and attend one of our training sessions in Semester 2 which covers the skills and information you will need to complete the role. Before signing up, we recommend that you read the role description so you understand what is expected of a peer mentor.
Sign up to training Read the role description
What does being a Lead Peer Mentor involve?
Lead Peer Mentors take on additional responsibilities on top of their role as a peer mentor. You can organise and lead Welcome Events and other activities during the year for new students to meet their mentors, as well as supporting, motivating and representing for your fellow mentors.
Read the role description
Apply now
Why should I become a Lead Peer Mentor?
Being a Lead Peer Mentor is a great way to support your fellow mentors and develop yourself. As a Lead Peer Mentor, you can…
- …develop valuable skills that employers look for, including leadership, communication skills, organisation and networking.
- …get experience planning events and supporting, motivating and leading a team.
- …demonstrate you are willing to take on additional responsibilities.
- …build a sense of community in your department by breaking down the barriers between year groups.
- …be invited to our annual celebration event.
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Nele's story
How do I become a Lead Peer Mentor?
Once you have completed Peer Mentor training, you will be invited to apply for the role of Lead Peer Mentor. We recommend reading the role description and outlining the skills and experiences you have that are relevant to the role. Applications for the role are open until the 6th of May.
Apply now
What does being a Peer Mentor involve?
Doctoral Peer Mentors support new doctoral students as they start their course, providing support during the first few months of their PhD. Mentors can share their experience as a new PhD student and answer questions about the step up to doctoral study and life and work at the University of Bath. Where possible, mentors support students in their own department.
Read the Doctoral Peer Mentor role description
Why should I become a Peer Mentor?
Being a Peer Mentor is a great way to support new students and develop yourself. As a Peer Mentor, you can…
- …develop valuable skills that employers look for, including communication and listening skills, organisation and networking.
- ...develop your influencing and engagement skills – a core component of the Researcher Development Framework (RDF)
- …build a doctoral student community.
- …learn more about the support available in the University.
- …increase your confidence by helping others.
- …be invited to our annual celebration event.
Chao's story
How do I become a Peer Mentor?
Doctoral students can become a mentor after the first six months of their PhD. It is recommended that new mentors should not be in the last 6 months of their course when they sign up, as they probably will complete their studies before they are allocated mentees.
Sign up now
The SU and the Doctoral College work closely with students in the following departments to run mentoring schemes.
- Architecture and Civil Engineering
- Biology and Biochemistry
- Chemical Engineering
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Education
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Health
- Mechanical Engineering
- Pharmacy and Pharmacology
- Politics, Languages and International Studies
- Psychology
- School of Management
- Social and Policy Sciences
If your department is not on the list, we recommend speaking with your supervisor or director of studies if you are interested in volunteering as a mentor. If your department doesn't have a mentoring scheme and you think that one would be valuable, there are several things that you can do to set up a new mentoring scheme.
Find out more about starting a new mentoring scheme
The Role
Placement Peer Mentors support students going through the placement process. working with a small group of mentees preparing for placement. Mentors also attend a networking event for their department, where they can share their placement experiences with students. You could support students with finding and applying for placements, preparing to go on placement and and accessing support with their placement.
Mentors do not support with the writing of applications or replicate any of the support that already exists. They act as informal peer to peer support and are trained to signpost students where necessary.
Read the role description
Jasmin's story 
Laura's story
Recruitment and Training
You can sign up to become a peer mentor over the summer. Any student who has started or completed a one year placement as part of their course can sign up to become a mentor. Students who sign up will need to attend an online training session to prepare for the role.
Become a Placement Peer Mentor
Social Work Placement Peer Mentors
Final year students in Social Work can also volunteer as a Placement Peer Mentor to support second year students while on their first placements. Peer Mentors plan and facilitate regular mentoring sessions during the first semester, delivering activities and supporting group work to enable students to share their experiences on placement, discuss assessment work and find support on issues.
In order to become a Social Work Placement Peer Mentor, you just need to sign up to and attend our training session, which will take place at the start of Semester 1. We recommend that you also familiarise yourself with the role description, which outlines in more detail the responsibilities of the role.
Read the role description
Sign up to become a peer mentor
Are you passionate about exercise, a keen gym-goer or enjoy a leisurely walk on your lunch break? We're looking for enthusiastic and motivated students to get involved in the Exercise Peer Mentor Scheme.
As an Exercise Peer Mentor, you will be paired up with a student who is starting to exercise regularly to improve their mental health. You will help them to find activities they want to try, go with them to activities, help keep them motivated and engaged and keep going with their activities after you finish your role.
Read the Role Description
Recruitment and Training
Recruitment is now open for this role. To apply for the role, you need to outline why you would make a good peer mentor and we recommend referring to the role profile. Applications close on 25 October at 10am.
Apply Now
Successful candidates will be invited to a short training session to prepare them for the role of a peer mentor. There will be two training sessions, a mentoring session focusing on your role as a mentor, and a wellbeing training session.