How does the Peer Mentoring Programme work?
Our amazing Peer Mentors are here to guide and support you as you start university life! They're experienced students, ready to share their insider knowledge, tips, and tricks to help you settle in smoothly. Whether it's big questions or small ones, they're here for you, and if they don't have the answers, they'll point you to someone who does.
When you join us as a first-year student, you'll be matched up with a mentor and a group of 10 to 12 classmates from your programme. Your mentor will reach out to you either before or during Orientation week, and they'll be available to you throughout your first term. As well as providing information, guidance, and support, they can tell you about all the academic, social, and personal support services available at UCD.
They'll arrange to meet you a couple of times in the first term. You can use these meetings to have fun and get to know your classmates or discuss any issues/queries that are affecting you. You can also contact them individually by email if you need to find something out more quickly.
What can your Peer Mentor do for you?
- Help you tackle any initial concerns and queries.
- Share their own experiences, hurdles, and tips and tricks with you.
- Help you to get to know your classmates right from the start of the year.
- Guide you in getting to know UCD and feeling like you belong to your academic programme.
- Motivate you to get involved in the social scene at UCD, whether it's joining clubs, societies, and more!
Some typical questions asked by 1st years/mentees:
- I’m feeling overwhelmed, what do I need to do next?
- Where are the lecture theatres, tutorial/seminar rooms/labs?
- Where’s the library?
- How do I take out a book?
- What’s a resit?
- What’s a module?
- I’m not sure I picked the right programme. What do I do?
- I’m struggling. Who should I talk to?
- I want to get involved in student life. What would you suggest?
Tips to thrive the first month of college:
- Make friends & get involved – societies, sports, etc. Ask your Peer Mentor to accompany you if you don't want to go alone.
- Attend all lectures/tutorials/labs but don't simply stop going altogether if you miss some classes.
- Keep on top of assignments.
- Explore the campus. There is so much to see and do so take some time to just wander around and get to know your UCD.
- Learn to cook.
- Budget appropriately and realistically. Take into account that you will have some larger initial expenditure items.
- Learn to balance college work & social life. This can take some time but you must prioritise your studies.
