What is it?

The student mentor scheme is an initiative run by the university to help first year students settle in to university life.

Each fresher will be assigned a second or third year student mentor from their academic school to assist them during their first term or so at Cardiff.

University can be a challenging time for those moving away from home for the first time. This is why mentors are there to provide just a little extra help and support with all matters from learning to living issues.

Some things mentors can help you with include meeting other students, Harvard referencing, Learning Central and societies to name a few. They essentially act as one of your first points of contact and friends when you start university.

Plus, as students who have been at the university a number of years, they will know the ropes and be able to give you some of the best insider tips – so make the most of them!

After first year, you then have the opportunity to become a student mentor yourself. This is a great opportunity and a good way of building up your CV. If you are interested in becoming a student mentor in the future, then keep on reading.

What do mentors do?

• Attend a Meet Your Mentor session when the semester starts
• Attend weekly/fortnightly meetings with mentees (you will need to complete 4-6 sessions in total)
• Plan 30-40 minute sessions on a variety of topics
• Write up a brief log of the session and submit it to the Skills Centre via email

Why get involved?

Becoming a student mentor is hugely rewarding. Being part of the programme will teach you many transferable skills that you can take with you into the working world.

Putting it on your CV demonstrates certain desirable qualities to employers and can enhance skills such as organisation, time management and leadership.

More than 800 students are currently mentors across the university and all receive full training and support during their time working. At the end of the year, they are presented with a certificate during a celebration evening to commend their achievements. Evidence of the mentor’s voluntary work will also appear on their Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR). It can also count towards the University’s employability award, the Cardiff Award which you can read about on my previous post here.

How to get involved?

To get involved, simply apply online when the applications open. This usually happens around February – March every year.

I hope this was useful and if you have any questions at all, feel free to leave a comment down below!

What is it?

The student mentor scheme is an initiative run by the university to help first year students settle in to university life.

Each fresher will be assigned a second or third year student mentor from their academic school to assist them during their first term or so at Cardiff.

University can be a challenging time for those moving away from home for the first time. This is why mentors are there to provide just a little extra help and support with all matters from learning to living issues.

Some things mentors can help you with include meeting other students, Harvard referencing, Learning Central and societies to name a few. They essentially act as one of your first points of contact and friends when you start university.

Plus, as students who have been at the university a number of years, they will know the ropes and be able to give you some of the best insider tips – so make the most of them!

After first year, you then have the opportunity to become a student mentor yourself. This is a great opportunity and a good way of building up your CV. If you are interested in becoming a student mentor in the future, then keep on reading.

What do mentors do?

• Attend a Meet Your Mentor session when the semester starts
• Attend weekly/fortnightly meetings with mentees (you will need to complete 4-6 sessions in total)
• Plan 30-40 minute sessions on a variety of topics
• Write up a brief log of the session and submit it to the Skills Centre via email

Why get involved?

Becoming a student mentor is hugely rewarding. Being part of the programme will teach you many transferable skills that you can take with you into the working world.

Putting it on your CV demonstrates certain desirable qualities to employers and can enhance skills such as organisation, time management and leadership.

More than 800 students are currently mentors across the university and all receive full training and support during their time working. At the end of the year, they are presented with a certificate during a celebration evening to commend their achievements. Evidence of the mentor’s voluntary work will also appear on their Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR). It can also count towards the University’s employability award, the Cardiff Award which you can read about on my previous post here.

How to get involved?

To get involved, simply apply online when the applications open. This usually happens around February – March every year.

I hope this was useful and if you have any questions at all, feel free to leave a comment down below!