A PGR Peer Mentor provides informal peer-to-peer support about the researcher experience through small group or one-to-one meetings, which could be online as well as in person.

Mentors provide their mentees with advice on community and development in PGR study. Discussions could include future career aspirations, working successfully with their supervisor, work/life balance, etc. 

Mentors have the opportunity to develop leadership in academia through mentoring and to gain experience of helping and advising postgraduate researchers, with the aim of inducting them into the postgraduate research community. Mentors also have the opportunity to use their experience to apply for Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy through Royal Holloway's TALENT scheme.

Training will be given to all mentors. Please email Laura.Christie@rhul.ac.uk for more information.

The PGR Peer Mentoring Scheme aims to:

• Match current doctoral researchers with new researchers to encourage collaboration and community among PGRs. 
• Give mentees a space to discuss and seek advice about aspects of PGR study.

• Provide new researchers with a group of PGRs with similar research interests as they begin their studies so they can build networks and seek support.

• It is expected that the mentoring relationship will last for at least two terms and can last up to a year or more if agreed by both mentor and mentee. 

PGR Peer Mentors are expected to:

• complete a training session to prepare you for the role of PGR Peer Mentor.  
• be proactive in contacting your mentees and providing them with support
• listen actively with interest, holding the focus on the mentee’s agenda
• take appropriate approaches such as empowering a mentee to achieve their goals and to sufficiently convey a sense of belong to the PGR community
• help the mentee become aware of the University services that can support them e.g. Wellbeing, Careers, Researcher Development Programme etc. 
• take an interest in the mentee's progress
• display discretion. 

PGR Peer Mentor guidance