Mentoring, what is it and how can it benefit you?

The Mentoring Programme at the University of Brighton works with undergraduate and postgraduate students to support you in setting and achieving your targets and goals with confidence. Our teams of professional mentors volunteer their time to meet every two weeks over a four-to-six-month period. 

You can connect remotely with your mentor using tools such as facetime, MS Teams, Zoom, Skype or WhatsApp.

What can you gain from the experience?

An improved ability to set goals and targets 

“Mentoring showed me that whatever holds you back from your goals or who you want to be in this life, if you react to it in the best possible way and work hard, you’ll get there.” 

Students, this could include improving time management by setting targets for the week or building confidence to put your best self forward in future interviews. Mentoring can provide you with the tools and mindset to achieve your goals. 

Improved communication skills

Mentoring requires a clear, respectful and trustworthy communication line between student and mentor, which takes commitment from both individuals.  

Planning for your meetings, discussing your thoughts and working through targets together, all contribute to establishing how you communicate with each other, developing your communication skills in general.  

Exposure to new perspectives, ideas and experiences. 

“Mentoring gave me many opportunities. I’ve never really had that before to be honest, because I didn’t know who to go to for opportunities.” 

Discussions within your mentoring sessions could give rise to new perspectives and ideas that neither of you had considered yet. This could help you to remain open-minded to different opinions and ways of thinking. 

Mentoring could also provide you with opportunities that you may not have had access to in the past. 

Time to self-reflect 

Engaging in thought-provoking conversations with another individual who is there just for you naturally provides you with the opportunity to voice your thoughts. A benefit to having meetings once every two weeks is that it allows for time to reflect between sessions. This could include broader thoughts around the sessions themselves and even your mentoring experience as a whole. 

Increased self confidence 

“If you take part in the mentoring programme, you’ll see a change in yourself. I guarantee it.” 

Students, you will be able to receive support from someone that will champion your strengths and help you develop your skills. 

Find out more about our mentoring programmes and apply for a mentor.

Or email us at Momentum@brighton.ac.uk