Studiosity Student Mentors
Would you like to become a student mentor and get paid for giving online study help and advice to first year students during 2022/23?
You are invited to avail of the opportunity to become a student mentor as part of Ulster University’s Studiosity ‘Student Connect’ online study support service.
What is Studiosity Student Connect?
Studiosity seeks to remotely match first year students who need help, to fully trained student mentors who are on (or who have previously completed) the same or similar course. Studiosity Student Connect enhances informal peer networks that students make at university and helps those who may not have been able to develop such networks.
The service will be fully managed and quality assured on behalf of the University by our partner Studiosity, and will offer significant benefits for both the mentors and mentees.
Watch our video for further information
How it works:
- You apply to become a student mentor.
- You are paid to complete 3 hours training which includes full onboarding support.
- You choose the hours you want to work between 11am - 11pm providing live, online mentoring to first year students.
What’s in it for you:
- Payment of £10 per hour (pro rata by the minute) for the mentoring you provide.
- Flexible working – you choose the hours you work.
- Valuable work experience, training, and employability skills.
- Giving something back to those starting their learning journey.
- Edge credit upon completion of an assessed peer mentoring Edge activity.
- More connection with the University community and the course ‘family’.
Interested?
If any of the following criteria apply, you are invited to sign up to become a student mentor today: (link to the application
- You will be a final year undergraduate student at Ulster University in the academic year of 2022/23.
- You are an undergraduate student at Ulster University who has been invited to apply by your school or course director for the academic year of 2022/23.
- You will be a postgraduate student at Ulster University in the next academic year 2022/23, who has recently completed an undergraduate degree at Ulster University (within the last 3 academic years).
Full training for mentors is provided.
Benefits you will provide to first year mentees
'Student Connect' provides benefits for first year students including:
- Providing an informal avenue of support to first year students in their transition to University who may feel uncertain or reserved in approaching a member of staff
- Helping them settle in and guide them in how to plan and structure their learning
- Alleviating concerns through a friendly and accessible mentoring service provided by final year students
What previous student mentors have told us
"It's a good feeling to be able to help people... to give back to students who were in the same position as you were last year."
Student Mentor
“I know how scary first year can be and I chose to be a peer mentor to help alleviate that worry and fear.”
Student Mentor
“I wanted to improve my employability for the future and to help first year students with the transition to university life.”
Student Mentor
"I thought it was really good because it's flexible and it's something that I could do when I am available because I can't really commit myself to anything that has strict hours, considering studying and working as well."
Student Mentor
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible to apply as a student mentor, you must meet the criteria specified above an be in Good Academic standing in 2022/23.
Having Good Academic Standing means that you are not carrying any resits at the point of application.
Desirable criteria
If applications exceed the number of mentors required factors previous experience of mentoring or other educational support (desirable) will be taken into consideration including experience of:
- Peer mentoring or other educational support such as PASS.
- Tutoring in Schools.
- UUSU leadership roles such as Student Rep, Student Councillor or Club/Society Committee member.
- Working in other supporting roles.
Other considerations
There are other points to note including:
- As part of the selection process you will be asked to take a communication test delivered by Studiosity and your performance will be taken into consideration.
- Academic performance on first year modules may be taken into consideration as part of the mentor-mentee matching process.
- Students who meet the criteria within the ratios of mentors required will be selected on a first come first serve basis.
- If a student is not offered a mentoring opportunity in the first round, a waiting list may be held for eligible applicants.
- Students will be informed about the outcome of the application within 6-8 weeks.
- The decision of selectors is final.
How to apply: step-by-step
Applications are currently open.
Please follow these steps to apply. This should only take about 30 minutes to complete.
Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment as students who meet the criteria within the ratios of mentors required will be selected on a first come first serve basis.
- Login using student number and password.
- Select 'Access Studiosity'.
- Select the 'Become a Student Mentor link' on the right hand side and enter your phone number.
- Complete the application process which includes a Student Mentor Communication Screening Test.
- Studiosity require some documents to verify your identity and skillset. Check you receive an email requesting these documents from recruitment@studiosity.com.
- Follow the guidance provided in the email to submit your documents.
- Check you get a confirmation email from Studiosity within 24 hours notifying you that your documents have been received.
When will you find out if you have been successful
We will try to inform you about the outcome of the application ASAP but within 6-8 weeks.
Training will commence at the end of August 2022. Further details will be provided in due course.
Who to contact if you have a question
If there are any issues with application please contact Catherine O'Donnell via email: c.odonnell@ulster.ac.uk
Frequently Asked Questions For Mentors
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Will Studiosity run across both semesters 1 and 2?
No, studiosity will be running up to the end of january 2023.
Students mentors are required to complete 3 hours mandatory paid training before (they will receive £30 for this) and then £10 per hour paid by the minute for mentoring.
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Is there a set number of hours a week that the service will run, or is it flexible and dependent on the mentee?
As this is a new service it is hard to predict what usage will be like, but we reckon an hour a week will probably be the minimum requirement (though getting an hour of mentoring a week can’t be guaranteed either). Students can decide when to make themselves available to provide mentoring (or request it). Some mentees on programmes may make more use of mentoring than others.
Mentees log in to use the service and mentors log on when they are available to offer mentoring. If a mentee requests help and a mentor is available in real time they will be connected straight away. If not an app sends a message to all suitable mentors with times the mentee would like help and the first to agree a suitable time to connect with the mentee gets the opportunity.
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Would I be eligible to apply for the peer mentoring role given that I will be undertaking my placement year next year (22/23) instead of going directly into final year?
Currently no, but we are considering extending mentoring roles to those on voluntary placements. If this is approved, communications will be sent out via your student emails so it’s worth keeping an eye out for future recruitment calls.
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Am I eligible to be a mentor if i am doing a PhD?
At this moment mentors are open to only those at undergraduate level or those who have completed an undergraduate degree at Ulster within the last three academic years.
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When will I find out if I was successful or not?
Applications are still open for some programmes. We aim to let students know the outcome of their appliaction with 6 weeks.
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I'm applying to be a student mentor and it wants me to upload an academic transcript; I don’t have access to these yet as I haven’t got my results letter. Can I get extra time to upload this?
Studiosity uses your academic transcript to identify if you are the best fit to be a mentor on particular modules. If you don’t have access to all your transcripts, just upload the results you have from first year to date. You can email A.toye@ulster.ac.uk if you encounter any problems.
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I am having issues with the link on the website to sign up? Could you help?
If you’re having any issues with any links, please contact us and let us know. You can email A.toye@ulster.ac.uk and we can see about fixing the problem.
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For the Peer Mentoring, it asks to upload transcripts of the modules, how can I do this? Is it a copy of all my results slips?
We ask that you provide evidence of your transcripts to date.
Get information on ‘HEAR’ which will provide you with a transcript of your results.
If you have any problems with access please contact servicedesk@ulster.ac.uk
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Is this different to the Studiosity service that we already have?
Yes.
The writing service that is already in place provides students with free access to Studiosity’s 24/7 writing feedback service.
Students can upload a writing draft any time, any day of the week, to receive constructive feedback from academic experts and teachers.
The new service is a peer mentoring service where final year students provide module specific support to first years studying the same course. The service provides real time support with interactive classrooms - with chat, collaborative whiteboard, and file sharing.
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When do we get paid for a mentor service?When do we get paid for a mentor service?
You will submit an invoices electronically via Studiosity's website or Mobile App.
Subject to verification by the Company, any invoice will be paid within 30 days of receipt of the invoice by Studiosity.