Career Mentoring at the University of Leeds offers students the opportunity to connect with an industry professional, who will provide valuable insights into the roles and organisations within their selected industry.

Some students may already have specific career or industry aspirations, allowing mentors to provide tailored information and guidance based on their own experiences. Other students may be at the beginning of their professional path, still exploring different possibilities and seeking advice on how to navigate their career options. Our mentoring schemes are designed to accommodate these diverse needs, providing valuable support for students at any stage of their career development.

We also recognise that not all students have the same level of preparedness for the job market. Many of the students on our schemes come from backgrounds that are underrepresented at the university and may face challenges in accessing the connections and support they need to pursue their career goals, making mentoring a particularly valuable opportunity.

The Career Mentoring offer at Leeds

For further information on a scheme, please click the relevant hyperlink below:

• Leeds Connect: A shorter alternative to long-term mentoring that allows students to ask a limited number of career-related questions when needed. Rolling recruitment takes place between November and April.
• eMentoring: Connects undergraduate students from any year/degree with University of Leeds alum mentors. Usually takes place between November and May.
• Nurturing Talent Mentor Scheme (NTMS): Connects undergraduate students from any year, who are part of Leeds University Business School (LUBS), with alum or employer mentors. Usually takes place between October and June.
• Biomentoring: Connects undergraduate students from any year, who are part of Faculty of Biological Sciences (FBS), with alum or employer mentors. Usually takes place between October and June.
• Next Steps Postgraduate Mentoring Scheme: Connects postgraduate taught students from any year with alum or employer mentors. Usually takes place between November and June.

Each mentoring scheme has its own student eligibility criteria, start and end date, and preferred format for meetings. Meetings for some schemes are held online (e.g., video calls, email, phone calls), whilst others provide the opportunity for in-person discussions or a combination of both.

These schemes aim to support our students to:

• Gain valuable insight into the roles and organisations within their selected career path/industry
• Enhance key transferable skills, including communication, organisation and relationship building
• Develop professional connections and networks
• Further develop their confidence when applying for opportunities
• Receive one-to-one support to help refine career goals
• Learn from a mentor’s experience and career journey, to benefit from and act on relevant advice and guidance given
• Complement their academic studies with their personal and professional development.

What are the benefits of being a mentor?

Being a mentor gives you the opportunity to:

• Broaden your perspective and gain insights into the views and challenges that current students face
• Enhance your communication, listening and interpersonal skills
• Share insights, wisdom and experience with the next generation entering the workplace
• Reflect on your own practice and enhance your learning
• Contribute to the development of another person
• Gain recognition and respect for your skills and experience
• Benefit from a sense of fulfilment and personal growth
• Access an emerging talent pool.

Would you like to provide career-related advice in the form of short-term connections?

Leeds Connect

Leeds Connect has been developed to complement the University’s central and faculty Career Mentor schemes by providing a short-term alternative for students who do not require a long-term mentorship commitment but would like to connect with Leeds alumni or employers (Advisers) for career-related queries and advice. Leeds Connect does not constitute a mentoring relationship; it facilitates short-term connections where students can ask a maximum of three questions per adviser per month, depending on their individual needs.

The programme is open to undergraduate and postgraduate taught students from any year of study and any degree course. Some will be international students, and others may be from backgrounds that are underrepresented in Higher Education and may lack the relevant networks and confidence to pursue their current career interests.

All connections will be hosted on an online platform called ‘Vygo’, with students recruited on a rolling 12-month period enabling them to join throughout the academic year. Students are matched with up to three Advisers (or can choose Advisers) based on profiles on the platform. Students can connect with up to three Advisers each month. Advisers can also adjust their availability on the platform to manage how many messages they receive from students.

For more information on Leeds Connect

and how to join, please contact the

Mentoring and Widening Participation Team

mentoring@leeds.ac.uk 

eMentoring

eMentoring is an online scheme that connects students with alum mentors in their industry of interest. The scheme is open to all undergraduate students from any degree background. Mentors are required to be University of Leeds alum who have at least one year of industry experience, in any industry.

Mentors and Mentees are usually matched for seven months, with a minimum requirement of at least one 1-hour meeting a month that should be held online via the eMentoring platform.

Applications for prospective mentors usually opens in June, with matching taking place in October.

Nurturing Talent Mentor Scheme (NTMS)

NTMS connects business school parented students with alum or employer mentors in their industry of interest. The scheme is open to undergraduate students in any year, who are part of the Leeds University Business School (LUBS) or parented by the school.

Mentors and Mentees are usually matched for eight months, with a minimum requirement of at least one 1-hour meeting a month that can take place in-person, online or via email.

Applications for prospective mentors usually close in July, with matching taking place over summer.

Biomentoring

Biomentoring connects students of the Faculty of Biological Sciences with alum or employer mentors in their industry of interest. The scheme is open to undergraduate students in any year of study, who are part of the Faculty of Biological Sciences (FBS) or parented by the school.

Mentors and Mentees are usually matched for eight/nine months, with a minimum requirement of at least one 1-hour meeting a month that can take place in-person, online or via email.

Applications for prospective mentors usually close in July, with matching taking place over summer.

Next Steps Postgraduate Mentoring Scheme

Next Steps connects postgraduate students with alum or employer mentors in their industry of interest. This scheme exclusively supports underrepresented students from the University of Leeds’ Plus Programme, who are also completing a taught Masters. Mentors are usually required to have a Master’s degree or higher.

Mentors and Mentees are usually matched for eight months, with a minimum requirement of at least one 1-hour meeting a month that can take place in-person, online or via email.

Applications for prospective mentors usually opens in July, with matching taking place in October.