PASS - Peer Assisted Study Support at QMUL
PASS is a course-based mentoring scheme, run for students by students. It gives first-years the opportunity to discuss study-related problems and get general advice from higher-year undergraduates in their subject. The scheme is firmly established at Queen Mary with 12 departments/schools running regular sessions.
Why 'peer' mentoring?
There is no barrier, student to student. Each subject mentor has a very useful perspective to offer the mentees. PASS is a valuable and complementary addition to the wide range of more formal teaching and support offered to students.
Photos in the slideshow above are from the PASS certificate ceremony which recognises the hard work of students organisers and mentors.
Who is involved in PASS?
Volunteer mentors are the most important part of PASS. Without them, the scheme could not run. They can offer first-years something staff members cannot – recent experience of being a first-year in the mentees’ own school or departments.
Hours
Mentors in each department give varying amounts of time, it is a flexible scheme. Mentors who commit to more than 10 hours per academic year are accredited through HEAR.
Who can be a mentor?
Mentors are second and third-year volunteers chosen or approved by their school or department. Most mentors are motivated by wanting to give new students the help they wished they had had at the same stage. Through mentoring, students increase their own academic and social confidence and gain useful experience and key employability skills.
What is the key skill of a PASS mentor?
Mentors are there to help mentees come to their own conclusions and solutions, not to supply answers.
How can you become a mentor?
Mentor recruitment for 2026- 27 will open and be live on the PASS Careers webpage in Spring 2027.
For more information about the role see the careers jobs and work experience web page. Please note: compulsory training sessions are held at the start of each new academic year.
Mentees are the first-year (and sometimes second year) students who attend PASS sessions. All students are welcome, no one is judged as struggling because they come along – they may want to get ahead for the following year or just enjoy talking to other students about their subject.
How do I know if it’s useful to come to PASS sessions?
Go along to a session and find out. There’s no requirement to be there on the dot or to come more often than you want to. You will get friendly, informal advice in a relaxed environment from people who understand your situation.
'I understand my feedback much better after going through it. I know how to improve now'
PASS Mentee
School of Biological and Behavioral Sciences:
Session details:
Session details arriving soon.
QMplus page: SBBS Peer-Assisted Study Support (PASS) | MyQMUL
Student Organiser to contact with any queries: Khadika Kahloon, k.z.kahloon@se25.qmul.ac.uk
Psychology:
Session details:
Tuesdays 1pm - 2pm in Graduate Centre, Room GC205
QMplus page: Psychology Peer Assisted Study Support (PASS)
Student Organiser to contact with any queries: Ekin Tokozlu, e.tokozlu@se24.qmul.ac.uk
School of Arts: English
Session details:
Tuesdays, 2pm - 3pm in Queens Building, Room QB 207
QMplus page: School of the Arts Peer Assisted Study Support page
Student Organiser to contact with any queries: Delia - Elena Andrei, d.andrei@hss24.qmul.ac.uk
School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science:
Session details:
Wednesdays 1pm - 2pm in the Maths Buidling, Room MB203
Fridays 11am-12pm in the Engineering Building, Room Eng 2.16
QMplus page: EECS Peer Assisted Study Support page
Student Organiser to contact with any queries: Fahima Islam, f.islam@se25.qmul.ac.uk
School of Engineering and Material Science:
Session details:
Student Organiser to contact with any queries: Tanisha Srivastava t.srivastava@se24.qmul.ac.uk
QMplus page: SEMS Peer Assisted Study Support | MyQMUL
School of Economics and Finance:
Session details:
Mondays 5th Oct, 19th Oct, 2nd Nov, 16th Nov and 20th Nov from 12pm - 1pm in the Graduate Centre, Room GC201
Wednesdays 14th Oct, 28th Oct, 11th Nov, 25th Nov and 9th Dec from 2pm - 3pm in the GO Jones Building, Room UG1
Student Organiser to contact with any queries: Huda Shaikh, h.shaikh@hss25.qmul.ac.uk
QMplus page: SEF Peer Assisted Study Support | MyQMUL
School of Dentistry:
Session details:
Session details will arrive soon.
Student organiser to contact for sessions dates and queries: Krish Chauhan, k.chauhan@smd25.qmul.ac.uk
QMplus page: Dentistry Peer Assisted Study Support QMplus page
School of Geography
Session details:
Wednesdays 1pm - 2pm in the Bancroft Building, Room 1.08
Student Organiser to contact with any queries: Benedict Luyindula, b.v.luyindula@hss24.qmul.ac.uk
QMplus page: Geography Peer Assisted Study Support QMplus page
School of History:
Session details:
Session details arriving soon.
Student Organiser to contact for PASS session times and with any queries: Mayisha Khatun, m.m.khatun@hss24.qmul.ac.uk
QMplu page: History Peer Assisted Study Support | MyQMUL
School of Maths:
Session details:
Mondays 2pm - 3pm in the Queens Building, Room LG4
Student Organiser to contact with any queries: Yasar Manohar, y.manohar@se25.qmul.ac.uk
QMplus page: Maths Peer Assisted Study Support QMplus page
Department of Politics and International Relations:
Session details:
Tuesdays 3pm - 4pm in Bancroft Building, Room 3.27
Student Organiser to contact with any queries: Vedika Ajitsaria, v.ajitsaria@hss24.qmul.ac.uk
QMplus page: DPIR Peer Assisted Study Support QMplus page
School of Law
Session Details:
Tuesdays 2pm - 3pm in the Laws Building, Room 119.
Student Organiser to contact with any queries: Angel Martin, a.martin@hss25.qmul.ac.uk
QMplus page: Link to be shared soon
Student organisers are at the pivot of the whole scheme as they are the main contact point for all the staff and students involved in PASS. They lead their team to publicise and plan the scheme in their department and are often experienced mentors.
Hours
More commitment is expected of organisers, they have paperwork to complete and sessions to organise.
How do you become a Student Organiser?
Contact the current organiser in your department (details on this web page) to find out first hand what the role entails.
Student Organiser recruitment for 2026 -27 will open in April 2027 and will be live on the PASS Careers webpage.
For more information about the role see the careers jobs and work experience web page. Please note: compulsory training sessions are held at the start of each new academic year.
I just wanted to say a big thank you for everything that PASS has meant to me these past few years. The new SOs are really perfect for the job. I couldn't be more proud of them and the whole team and of the sense of community that PASS has built within our course.
Previous Student Organiser from Dentistry
Every school or departmental PASS scheme has an interested and involved academic to liaise with the student organisers on course matters and logistical issues. Some academic coordinators work with an administrative or support colleague who is also a key contact for the mentor team.