Mentor scheme

The Departments of Law and Criminology’s student peer mentor scheme plays a valuable role in the welcome and induction process.

Your mentor will meet with you and your Academic Advisor in a small group meeting at the start of Welcome Week. This initial meeting will provide the opportunity to swap contact details (local address, email addresses and telephone numbers) with your mentors so that further contact can be made easily.

All second and third-year mentors have successfully passed a selection process and received "Mentor Training" from the University. Moreover, fresh from experiencing life as a first-year student, all mentors possess the qualities and memories to provide worthwhile advice on how to make the most of your time as a student.

It certainly won't take long before you know the best ways to work, rest and play in Manchester.

What to expect from your mentor

Besides offering a friendly face during the first couple of weeks of University life, your mentor is available to provide advice on how to make the most of your time at Manchester. For example:

Advice on where to socialise

Our Law and Criminology students are renowned for their social gatherings. Who better then, than your mentor, to draw up a map of the best places to find pubs and clubs, arts and entertainment.

Accommodation advice

Where do we go next year? Get the student impression of University halls, private flats or other accommodation.

Advice on course options

When it gets to the time of year to choose next year's course units, your mentor can give you a student viewpoint on the pros and cons of your possible choices.

Volunteering as a mentor

In February of each academic year, an email is sent to all undergraduate students asking for volunteers for the following academic year, full training programme details will be included.

More information on mentoring is available on the main University website:

Your responsibilities as a mentor:

  • to be available to new students to answer questions via email or in-person;
  • send a weekly email to mentees checking everything is ok with them;
  • if there are issues then please let their Academic Advisor know or call into the Teaching, Learning and Student Experience Office (room 3.05, Williamson Building). Your role is not to deal with any personal or academic issues they might be having but to signpost them to the correct support. The most common places are listed at the back of your Peer Mentoring Guide;
  • attend any mentoring events organised by your scheme and maintain regular contact with the scheme’s Student and Staff Coordinator, updating them on your activities and any problems you may have with regard to the scheme;
  • offer feedback and contribute to the development of the scheme.