Information for new undergraduate students

The Melbourne Peer Mentor Program is designed for new undergraduate students. If you are starting your course in 2024, you are automatically part of the program, so it’s easy to turn up and start having fun!

How does it work?

You will be matched with a peer mentor and a group of other first-year students from your course. You’ll meet with your group five times throughout your first semester, providing you with a strong basis for building your networks and knowledge as you begin your journey at the University of Melbourne.

Shortly after you accept your offer, you will receive further information about the program, including details about how to preference your group meeting times. Keep an eye on your inbox!

Student listening to mentor

What do I do?

Select preferences for peer mentoring, which will appear as the MPMP00101 subject in MyTimetable. This will ensure that your sessions fit within your timetable and are scheduled at times that work best for you. You will then be matched with a mentor and first-year students who are also available at the same time, to ensure that you are always available to meet for your sessions!

When is my first mentoring session?

Information about your Peer Mentor meetings will be available in the 'Peer mentoring' page in my.unimelb shortly before semester begins.  Once you’ve selected your preferences and been matched to your group, your sessions will be visible to you in the Peer Mentoring page of my.unimelb. You’ll also be able to see your upcoming sessions a week in advance in the My Day portlet on the home page of my.unimelb.  Once you’ve been matched with a group, introduce yourself and chat with your Mentor and group by using Chatter, found on the Peer mentoring 'My Group' section of my.unimelb.

What do students have to say?

As a new student, you’ll share fun experiences with your peer mentor group and discover what university life has to offer. Here’s what other students had to say:

MPMP is great! My mentors were very kind and welcoming. I got to meet a lot of people and make new friends.

It was super helpful to be able to speak to more experienced students in such a casual environment. My mentor gave us really important and valuable advice.

My mentors were really nice. I appreciated how they both had different university experiences to tell us about, and all the tips they gave us for being on campus.

Group of students smiling

Frequently asked questions

  • How are peer mentors and new undergraduate students matched?

    Peer mentors and new undergraduate students are matched based on their course of study. For example, if you are a first-year student studying the Bachelor of Commerce, you will have a peer mentor who has undertaken that course at the University of Melbourne.

  • How can I contact my peer mentor?

    Once you have been matched with a peer mentor, you can contact them and your group of fellow new undergraduate students via the ‘Chatter’ function on the Peer mentoring 'My Group' section of my.unimelb.

  • How, when and where will I meet my peer mentor and group?

    The details of all your mentoring sessions will be provided in the Peer mentoring 'My Group' page in my.unimelb. To access this and check for your mentoring session details, log into my.unimelb, navigate to 'Advising and Mentoring' in the menu, then select 'Peer mentoring' from the dropdown options. Select 'My Group' to view all your current group details and chat with other group members.

  • How do I schedule my meetings in MyTimetable?

    Your meeting schedule will appear in MyTimetable alongside your subjects. To create a schedule that fits around your classes:

    1. Log into MyTimetable
    2. Find the Peer Mentoring subject MPMP00101 under the Enrolment section
    3. Select your preferred meeting days and times during the preference entry period. Detailed information about this period will be provided to you via email.
    4. If you miss the preference entry deadline, you will be allocated into a mentor group that fits in with your class schedule. You will be notified via email when this happens.

    If the time of your mentoring session conflicts with your schedule, please submit a Timetable Assistance Form.

    You may notice that the Melbourne Peer Mentor Program  appears in your Study Plan. This is just a way for mentor meetings to be scheduled in MyTimetable. The Melbourne Peer Mentor Program is not a subject – but a fantastic opportunity for you to connect with your peers as part of your University experience.

  • What if I am unable to attend one of my mentoring sessions?

    We strongly encourage you to attend all your mentoring sessions where possible. However, if you are unable to attend a session, or are running late, please notify your peer mentor via the ‘Chatter’ function in the my.unimelb Peer mentoring page.

  • What if I experience problems with my peer mentor?

    In the unlikely event that you encounter any issues or have any concerns, please contact your faculty Student Life team via this form.

  • I am a new undergraduate student. Is it compulsory for me to participate in the program?

    Students have been telling us that they want to find ways to connect with others and learn from a student who has done this before them. The Melbourne Peer Mentor Program is a great way for you to connect and the Program has been set up with students in mind. Your participation is expected and we hope you make the most of this opportunity!

  • How do I become a peer mentor?

    Peer mentors are recruited twice a year, before the start of each semester. Check our ‘Apply to become a peer mentor’ page regularly for further recruitment updates.

  • Who can I contact if I have further questions?

    For further questions, please submit an enquiry.