Specialist mentoring

One-to-one specialist mentoring focusing on your academic studies.

Who can access specialist mentoring?

Specialist mentoring is primarily provided for students with mental health needs or neurodivergent profiles including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and those on the autistic spectrum. You may be eligible to access this service through Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA). Please contact the Disability Service if you are unsure about your entitlement to DSA.

How specialist mentors can help

Specialist mentors provide a supportive bridge between managing your wellbeing, studies and the whole student experience.

Specialist mentors can help you to:

understand how you learn best
identify triggers that impact on your wellbeing
plan, organise and prioritise workload
manage work/life balance
develop motivation and productivity
focus and concentrate more effectively
build confidence and self-esteem
improve attendance and engagement
participate in group work and presentations
develop social and communication skills
manage anxiety and stress, particularly in relation to exams and assessment
make use of relevant resources, tools and apps to become more independent
explore options for support both internal and external to UWE Bristol
set realistic goals and plan next steps.

Specialist mentors are not able to:

act as a counsellor, therapist or mental health advisor – find out how to get wellbeing support
focus on the management or treatment of a specific condition – you should contact your GP/clinical practitioner or register with a doctor
advise on funding such as Disabled Students' Allowances or reasonable adjustments – you should contact the Disability Service
act as an advocate – you should contact the Students' Union Advice Centre.

"My mentor was superb in listening to any and all challenges I faced within my degree, and she always provided practical suggestions to help me overcome them. Her endless encouragement motivated me to achieve the best I could and helped me develop greater confidence in myself."

Katie, Student

Katie Student

Aims

Specialist mentoring aims to:

provide a supportive bridge between managing your wellbeing, studies and the whole student experience
identify barriers to learning and the impact of your mental health needs or neurodivergent profile
work with your individual strengths, needs and learning preferences
identify areas for development and personal growth enable you to develop effective transferable skills, capability and learning strategies
collaborate with you using a tailored approach to create solution focused outcomes
enhance your confidence and resilience
enable you to build independence and fully engage in your studies.

How to book

Contact the Access and Learning Strategies team to check your eligibility and book an initial appointment.
Initial appointments will usually take place online using Microsoft Teams. Follow-up appointments may take place either online or in person in agreement with your specialist mentor.
Appointments usually last between 30 to 60 minutes.

You may also like to explore library study skills support, college study support and wellbeing support.

How to cancel

You can cancel your session by contacting the Access and Learning Strategies admin team at least 24 hours before your session (excluding weekends and Bank Holidays).

Cancelling 24 hours or more before your session means you can reuse that hour at another time. Cancelling less than 24 hours before your session or not attending your session without providing notification, means you will lose that hour from your support allocation.

Full details are available from our Cancellation Policy.