Mentoring FAQs
Mentoring FAQs
Who is this for?
The mentoring scheme is for home Ph.D. candidates from a racially minoritised ethnic people background specifically: Asian British, Black, Black British, Caribbean or African Mixed or multiple ethnic groups. Please see the government webpage here for more details.
- Please note: to be classed as a Home student, candidates must meet the following criteria:
Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or - have settled status, or
- have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
- have indefinite leave to remain or enter.
How will this help me?
There is a rich literature on the benefits of mentoring, but here are some common ways: mentors can act as translators (‘actually, this is what the university means’); sign posters (‘this is who you need to contact’); normalisers (‘my first presentation was terrible as well’); sponsors (‘this is a good opportunity you should apply to’) etc.
Our mentors are here to support the professional and personal development of students through cross-institutional knowledge, building resiliency, and fostering leadership.
How do I choose a mentor?
We allocate mentoring in cycles, although you can visit our website at any time to express an interest. You will then be able to browse available mentors on our website and see if that mentor is available to work with. If you find a mentor that is a good match for you, fill in the form at the bottom of their page.
How many mentors can I have?
We ask you to not contact more than 3 mentors at one time.
Can I change my mentor?
Yes, this is normal. Changing mentors can take place after the first meeting or after a few meetings. Please do let us know if you would like to change mentors.
How many times can I meet my mentor?
We ask mentors to meet for a minimum of 4 hours in the academic year. You may mutually decide to meet more than this if it is convenient for both mentor and mentee.
Can I choose my mentor from a different University ?
Yes, this can be beneficial as it gives a different perspective. You might also be able to find someone in your subject discipline more easily. However, please do not assume that the processes and procedures in your mentor’s institution, faculty, or department are the same if you are based elsewhere.
What if my mentor leaves?
Unlikely, but we can always allocate you to someone else and you may still keep in touch with your previous mentor.
How long can I have this mentor for?
You should have a minimum of 4 meetings (typically 1 semester) but many mentors will continue to mentor informally beyond that.
Where do I sign up?
Please email [email protected] to express your interest, or if you have further questions.
What does a mentor do?
Mentors meet with PGR students from racially minoritized backgrounds to help them navigate Higher Education and overcome barriers and obstacles. We ask you to act as a sponsor and take an interest in the individual you are mentoring, pointing out opportunities and helping them by being proactive in their development.
How often do I meet my mentee?
It is up to you and your mentee to work out a schedule, but we ask you to meet for a minimum of 4 hours in the academic year. Most meetings last 1 hour but you can arrange shorter meetings if you prefer.
Where do we meet our mentee?
We recommend you meet in person, e.g., over a cup of coffee on campus, but you may also wish to meet online.
Do I get paid to Mentor?
Unfortunately, no. You may be allocated workload credit, but this depends on your institution and department. Mentoring also has benefits for promotion and progression in most departments.
How many mentees can I have?
It is up to you, but we ask you not to take on too many due to workload. Please note that we have more mentors than we have capacity to match with mentees (due to a shortage of racialised postgrad research students in the sector). Therefore, we cannot guarantee that you would be chosen as a mentor.
Can I have mentees from different Universities?
Yes, cross-institutional collaboration is encouraged but be careful not to make assumptions on policies and procedures at other institutions.
What happens during the mentoring meeting?
Have a conversation. The Pro: NE team can make some suggestions if you would like information on specific mentoring tools and activities. We recommend asking the mentee what they would like to discuss to ensure that the conversations match their expectations.
How long does this project last?
Pro: NE will continue into 2025. Each mentoring cycle will last for 1 academic year. You are very welcome to continue being a mentor after you have completed your 4 hours of mentoring. Many mentors continue to meet their mentee informally and keep in touch.
What benefits can I gain from being a mentor?
The mentoring role is there to help racially minoritized students. However, there are many benefits to being a mentor in terms of reflection and the satisfaction of being able to help future researchers develop and improve our profession. There may also be citizenship value in terms of promotion and progression as this is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate commitment to EDI values.
Do I get any training?
Yes – we have a workshop that you can sign up to where we discuss mentoring from the perspective of racialized minorities. We also have access to mentoring tools which we can provide online. However, much of the mentoring experience is like a supervisory role. If you have supervised an MPhil/Ph.D. candidate, then you have a good idea what it will be like. The main difference is that the mentoring relationship is less formal and more reciprocal (they can help you reflect and develop as well).
Where can I sign up?
Please email [email protected] to express your interest, or if you have further questions.