Mentoring Pathways
Birkbeck’s Mentoring Pathways gives final-year students the opportunity to engage in a mentoring relationship with alumni and corporate volunteers. These mentoring relationships provide students with guidance, advice and support as they navigate the steps to their future careers and professional development goals.
Mentors are drawn from our Birkbeck graduates and corporate partners working in a diverse range of professions and industries. Current organisations and partnerships include Arts Council England, Clifford Chance, Goldman Sachs and Unum.
Why become a mentor?
By becoming a mentor, you support Birkbeck's diverse student community and can improve your own skills such as coaching and active listening. You'll also attend a CPD-accredited mentoring training session.
Why become a mentee?
If you're a student, by working with a mentor you will develop vital skills to support your future career, gain advice on identifying and achieving your goals and expand your professional network.
What's involved?
- Mentors and mentees are hand-matched based on their interests and careers
- Mentors and mentees are required to attend an online training session in November. Then between December and June, meet your mentee once a month for an hour-long mentoring session, either online or in-person
- Invitations to events including a mid-programme feedback session and a celebration event to mark the end of the programme
Programme timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 28 August 2025 | Mentor applications open |
| 28 August 2025 | Mentee applications open |
| 25 September 2025 | Applying for Mentoring Pathways - Volunteer event (online) |
| 29 September 2025 | Applying for Mentoring Pathways - Student event (online) |
| 8 October 2025 | Mentee applications close |
| 20 October 2025 | Mentor applications close |
| 10-11 November 2025 | Mentor training sessions (online) |
| 5-6 November 2025 | Mentee training sessions (online) |
| 27 November 2025 | Mentoring matches announced |
| February 2026 | Drop-in clinic for participants |
| April 2026 | Mid-programme event |
| July 2026 | End of programme |
Mentoring testimonials
“Everybody’s experience is unique and everybody has a story to tell. Anybody can be a mentor. I suspect a lot of people are put off mentoring because they think they don’t have enough experience or the right gravitas or they aren’t old enough. But it’s not about having all the answers. It’s about being an impartial third party for students to talk to and just listening. I think a skill you predominantly need as a mentor is about listening.”
Phill Collins, Mentor of the Year 2024/25
How to apply
Final year students: Register here to sign up for Mentoring Pathways
Alumni: Register here to become a Mentoring Pathways volunteer