Peer support

Connecting with other students can be a great way to get first-hand advice, insights and support.

Serving as a peer supporter to other students will build your confidence, skills and experience, and give you valuable opportunities to reflect on your time at university.

For all students, peer support programmes offer opportunities to make new connections and feel more a part of the university community.

Peer support opportunities for students in any faculty

Writing Mentors (Writing Space)

For: all undergraduate and Masters students.

Writing Mentors are current students who are trained to support you with all elements of your academic writing.

Available every weekday during term time, they can provide you with guidance on a range of topics such as reading, note taking, referencing and time management to help you improve your work.

Careers Service Peer Support Assistants

For: all students.

Careers Service Peer Support Assistants offer peer-to-peer support as part of a wider role within the University’s Careers Service.

These current students can respond to your careers-related questions and provide job search advice, as well as help you to engage with the range of careers support available through this service.

University Buddy Scheme

For: all students.

The University Buddy Scheme is open year-round, and provides a fantastic opportunity for you to make new friends and connections. If you sign up to the scheme, you will be asked to complete a form and will then be matched with another student in the same year of study with shared interests.

Postgraduate Researcher Diversity Buddy Scheme

For: postgraduate researchers (PGRs) who identify as members of a minoritized/underrepresented group.

The Postgraduate Researcher Diversity Buddy Scheme connects new PGR students with more experienced PGR peers to help you settle into the University of Leeds research community.

PGR 'buddies' act as informal mentors, offering advice, answering questions and signposting to a wide range of support, opportunities and activities.

Faculty-specific peer support opportunities

Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures (AHC)

AHC Peer Mentoring Scheme

For: first year students in all AHC schools.

The AHC Peer Mentoring Scheme connects first year students with peer mentors in their second year or above for advice, guidance and support about university life.

AHC Buddy Scheme

For: all AHC students (undergraduate, Masters and postgraduate researchers).

The AHC Buddy Scheme offers all AHC sudents an opportunity to meet and connect with their peers across the faculty. If you sign up, you’ll be matched with students with similar interests to help you build new friendships and connections.

Faculty of Biological Sciences (FBS)

FBS Academic Skills Interns

For: all students in the FBS.

FBS’ Academic Skills Interns are a small team of current students committed to supporting the academic journey of their peers. They provide academic support and advice that is relevant to the FBS curriculum through events and resources.

You can request one-to-one support from the interns team by filling out the FBS Academic Skills Support Interns form.

Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences (FEPS)

Chemical and Process Engineering Mentoring Scheme

For: first year students in the School of Chemical and Process Engineering.

Peer group sessions led by trained peer supporters in a year above to help you get advice, guidance and support, as well as giving you opportunities to ask questions relating to both academic and student life. 

For more information, email the School of Chemical and Process Engineering: scapestudentsupport@leeds.ac.uk.

Chemistry Peer Assisted Learning Scheme

For: first year students in the School of Chemistry. 

​Peer group sessions led by trained peer supporters in a year above to help you get advice, guidance and support, as well as giving you opportunities to ask questions relating to both academic and student life.

For more information, email the School of Chemistry: chemstudentsupport@leeds.ac.uk.

Civil Engineering Peer Assisted Student Support Leader Drop-Ins

For: first year students in the School of Civil Engineering.

Regular drop-ins run by trained peer supporters in the year above to help you get advice, guidance and support, and ask questions relating to both academic content and to student life in general.

For more information, email the School of Civil Engineering: civilenquiries@leeds.ac.uk.

Electronic and Electrical Engineering Peer Mentoring Scheme  

For: first year students in the School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering.

Peer group sessions led by trained peer supporters in upper years to help you get advice, guidance and support, as well as giving you opportunities to ask questions relating to both academic and student life. 

For more information, email the School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering: elecenquiries@leeds.ac.uk.

Maths Peer Assisted Learning Scheme

For: first year students in the School of Maths.

Peer support provided through a combination of peer group sessions and drop-in opportunities. Led by trained peer supporters in the year above, these sessions help you get advice, guidance and support, as well as give you opportunities to ask questions relating to both academic and student life.

For more information, email the School of Maths: mathsstudentsupport@leeds.ac.uk.

Mechanical Engineering Peer Mentoring Scheme

For: first year students in the School of Mechanical Engineering.

Peer group sessions led by trained peer supporters in a year above to help you get advice, guidance and support, as well as giving you opportunities to ask questions relating to both academic and student life.

For more information, email the School of Mechanical Engineering: mech_enquiries@leeds.ac.uk.

Physics Student Network

For: first year students in the School of Physics.

Physics Student Network sessions are run by trained peer supporters in upper years to help you get advice, guidance and support and to give you opportunities to ask questions relating to both academic and student life.

For more information, email the School of Physics: physicsstudentsupport@leeds.ac.uk.

Peer mentoring for Foundation Year students 

For: Foundation Year students preparing to progress onto an undergraduate course in the FEPS.

This programme connects you with undergraduate students in the faculty you’ll be studying in once you progress on to your undergraduate course. For current students, especially those who did a Foundation Year, this is a great opportunity to help support other students transition to undergraduate study.

For more information, email Georgia Melia: g.melia@leeds.ac.uk.

Faculty of Environment (FE)

Faculty of Environment PGT Buddy Programme

For: Masters students in the FE.

This programme helps you to get to know other Masters students studying in the same faculty with similar interests. Through the programme, you’ll be able to connect and share your experiences with your peers.

For more information, email Natalie Davies-Ania: n.c.ania@leeds.ac.uk.

Peer mentoring for Foundation Year students 

For: Foundation Year students preparing to progress onto an undergraduate programme in the FE.

This programme connects you with undergraduate students in the faculty you’ll be studying in once you progress on to your undergraduate programme. For current students, especially those who did a Foundation Year, this is a great opportunity to help support other students transition to undergraduate study. 

For more information, email Georgia Melia: g.melia@leeds.ac.uk.

Faculty of Medicine and Health (FMH)

Peer Assisted Learning Scheme (PALS) for Medics

For: Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) students in years 1 to 4.

The PALS Scheme is a teaching, leading and learning opportunity for MBChB students which sees students in year 1 and up taught by students in the year above. Regular PALS sessions are run in sync with the MBChB curriculum.

Dental Families

For: students in most years in the School of Dentistry.

Run by DentSoc (Leeds University Union’s Dental Society), the Dental Families Scheme arranges students into peer support groups ('families') and gives you an opportunity to connect with a dental ‘parent’ in the year above.

 For more information, email the Dental Society: dentsoc@luu.group.

Medical Undergraduate Mentoring Scheme (MUMS)

For: first year students in the School of Medicine.

Run by MedSoc (Leeds University Union’s Medicine Society), the MUMS programme provides extra support to new medical students in adjusting to university life by assigning ‘medic parents’ from the year above.

For more information, email the Medicine Society: medsocleeds@gmail.com.

School of Psychology Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS)

For: first year students in the School of Psychology.

PASS is a peer support scheme connecting first year students with peer mentors in their second year or above, to help you get advice, guidance and support relevant to life and study at university. This programme runs in the second semester.

Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS)

Please check out peer support opportunities listed under peer support for students in any faculty.

Leeds University Business School (LUBS)

Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS)

For: first year students in LUBS.

Student PASS Leaders run Peer Assisted Study Sessions over the duration of year 1.

These sessions aim to help you get peer advice and guidance on the essential skills needed to support academic success, including referencing, revision techniques, and presentation tips. It can help you build your network and find connections with other Masters students in the LUBS community.

LUBS Taught Postgraduate Buddy Scheme

For: taught postgraduate students in LUBS.

The LUBS Taught Postgraduate Buddy Scheme is designed to help Masters students in LUBS meet new people and make friends. It can help you build your network and find connections with other Masters students in the LUBS community.

Lifelong Learning Centre (LLC)

Peer mentoring for Foundation Year students

For: Foundation Year students preparing to progress onto an undergraduate degree in the FEPS or the FE.

This programme connects you with undergraduate students in the faculty you’ll be studying in once you progress on to your undergraduate course. It offers a great chance to learn more about what lies ahead and to prepare for the transition to your undergraduate studies.

For more information, email Georgia Melia: g.melia@leeds.ac.uk.

Whilst efforts are made to keep this peer support programmes list up to date, some of these programmes may no longer be active or there may be peer support opportunities relevant to your programme, school or faculty not shown.

We recommend speaking to your school support team or academic personal tutor if you are interested in exploring peer support opportunities available to you.

Support and guidance