Mentors can be a catalyst - enriching career and personal development

Applications to become a mentor through the Activate Mentoring Programme have now closed for the 25/26 academic year.

Applications from Imperial staff, alumni and PhD students who can offer experience, insight and guidance to support the aims of Activate are most welcome.  

Mentoring is a relationship based on trust and mutual regard where one individual uses their expertise and knowledge to support the development of another.  Becoming a mentor and completing the dedicated training programme will contribute towards your continuing professional development and you will be able to: 

  • Use evidence from your mentoring experience towards Associate/Fellowship of Advance HE   
  • Expand your professional and cultural perspective and professional networks 
  • Receive recognition for your involvement in a programme of strategic importance to College 
  • PhD students who become mentors will be paid the GTA higher rates of pay for their time 
  • Share your experiences with other mentors and mentees through group cohort activities 
  • Join part of a community of mentors and mentees who will be part of the programme.

Expectations

Activate is a flagship mentoring programme and all mentors are required to complete the mandatory training set out below:

  • Unconscious Bias (online, self-paced), by 15 September 2025
  • Safeguarding (online, self-paced), by 15 September 2025
  • Introduction to Mentoring for Mentors (online, self-paced), by 15 September 2025
  • For mentors supporting Minority Ethnic mentees: Safe conversations (online), 17 September 2025, 12pm – 2pm 
  • For mentors supporting disabled mentees: Mentoring students with disabilities (online, self-paced), by 26 September 2025

We also expect all mentors to be available for 6 meetings with their mentee between November 2025 and June 2026.

If you are returning to mentor through Activate and you have already completed the training, you do not need to complete it again.  However, you are encouraged to take the training by way of refresher at least once every two years.  If you have completed Unconscious Bias and Safeguarding as part of the Imperial Essentials training, you do not need to take these courses again.

Questions for mentors

Expectations for the Mentoring Programme

As a mentor you will be expected to:

  • Support students to enhance their academic and professional development
  • Engage with our training and development programme 
  • Participate in our networking, community and development opportunities
  • Commit to 6 meetings with your mentee, during a period of about 6 months 
Who are the mentees?
  • Minority Ethnic PhD students (with any fee status (Home/EU or Overseas))
  • Recipients of Imperial's Scholarships for Undergraduate and Master’s level students of Black heritage (Home fee status only).
  • PhD students with disabilities
  • Recipients of Imperial's Master's Scholarships which support disabled students
How mentors will be supported

As a mentor, you will receive a comprehensive training programme which includes: 

  • Mentoring skills and approaches 
  • Practicalities of the mentoring role and Activate Mentoring Programme 
  • Unconscious bias training  
  • Safeguarding training 
  • A tailored workshop specifically for the mentoring stream you have joined
How will you be matched with a mentee and how will your partnership be supported?

 

  • As part of the application process, you will be invited to describe what you can bring to a mentoring partnership, your experiences and skills. This will be shared with mentees who will then select a mentor who best fulfils their needs.
  • There will also be regular confidential “check-in” meetings which provide an opportunity for you to let us know if you have any concerns or worries and to check your partnership is working well.
Activities and Events for Mentors in 2025/26

Please save these dates in your diary:

  • Unconscious Bias (online, self-paced), by 15 September 2025
  • Safeguarding (online, self-paced), by 15 September 2025
  • Introduction to Mentoring for Mentors (online, self-paced), by 15 September 2025
  • For mentors supporting Minority Ethnic mentees: Safe conversations (online), 17 September 2025, 12pm – 2pm 
  • For mentors supporting disabled mentees: Mentoring students with disabilities (online, self-paced), by 26 September 2025
  • 19 November 2025 | 12pm – 2pm |  Welcome Celebration: Mentors & Mentees Cohort, 
  • March Mentor Check-ins
    • 10 March 2025 | 12:00 – 13.00 | Option 1
    • 12 March 2025 |  13:00 – 14:00 | Option 2
  • TBC May 2026 | Time TBC | Social Activity: Mentee and Mentor Activity (in-person)
  • 24 June 2026 | 17.15 – 8pm | End of programme celebration | In-person, South Kensington Campus

Any Q

Any Questions?

If you have any questions please contact the Activate Student Mentoring Programme Coordinator.

Get in touch

Useful resources and downloads