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Specialist Mentoring

What is Specialist Mentoring?

Specialist Mentoring supports you to develop study techniques that help manage your course in a way that works well for you.

Mentors can support you to develop study and wellbeing strategies that help you get the most from your course. Their support can help you find effective ways to manage studies alongside the needs of your long-term condition.

The support is tailored to what you need.

The sessions are 1 to 1. They are usually an hour long. They are available Monday to Friday and can be online or in person at college sites.

Students can usually access 10 hours per year. This is reviewed and more hours can be agreed where needed.

Specialist Mentoring topics

The Mentor will discuss how you want to use your sessions and review this with you periodically.

These are some common topics that mentors support students with:

  • Planning and organisational skills
  • Reducing study related stress and overwhelm
  • Strategies to aid motivation and focus
  • Strategies to help you meet assignment deadlines
  • Presentations and crits, including how to manage related anxiety
  • Improving attendance
  • Managing anxiety around different university environments
  • Strategies for collaborating and working with others
  • Improving wellbeing whilst studying
  • Support to settle into university.

Accessing Specialist Mentoring

You need to:

  • Be registered with the Disability Service.
  • Be referred for Specialist Mentoring by your Disability Adviser.

Contact the Disability Service for more information.

Who are Specialist Mentors?

Specialist Mentors are trained professionals who work alongside the Disability Service. Mentors:

  • Understand the academic context and where barriers to learning may exist.
  • Are trained in mental health and autism. They also work with students with a range of other conditions.
  • Can help you find solutions to overcome disabling barriers to study.
  • Don’t provide Counselling or academic support.

How to book

If you have already been matched with a mentor, please contact them directly to arrange sessions.

If you haven’t been referred for Specialist Mentoring, or you’re unsure, please contact your Disability Adviser or disability@arts.ac.uk

Making the most of your sessions

It is helpful to:

  • Think about what you want help with
  • Consider how frequently you might want to use your hours, e.g. weekly for a set period, fortnightly, or less regularly throughout the year
  • Arrive on time and keep your appointments.

Your first session

Your mentor will:

  • Help you consider how you want to use the sessions
  • Support you to identify goals that you would like to work towards
  • Talk about how frequently you would like sessions.

Keep in touch

For any questions about Specialist Mentoring please contact your Disability Adviser (if known) or disability@arts.ac.uk