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 14 departments/schools running regular sessions.
Photos in the slideshow above are from the 2017 PASS certificate ceremony which recognises the hard work of students organisers and mentors.
PASS contacts in each school/department
PASS contacts for the 2021/2022 academic year will be updated shortly. In the meantime, if you have any questions about the scheme please contact pass-scheme@qmul.ac.uk.
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 3 sessions per semester 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?
We are currently recruiting mentors for all subject areas. Please visit the following page for additional information.
Make a note of the academic coordinator's email address for your school, it is listed on this web page. 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 2015
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) find out when the sessions run and go along to find out more. Each department recruits their mentors and student organisers differently but usually, this is finalised by the summer. Please click on the student organiser profiles below to find out more about the role.
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.
