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PhD Peer Guidance Network

This new pilot initiative, delivered under the Postgraduate Renewal Programme in collaboration with the Postgraduate Advisory Service and Student Counselling Service, aims to strengthen the support framework for doctoral students at the University. It aligns with institutional strategic priorities to enhance postgraduate wellbeing and foster an inclusive, thriving research community.

This initiative is co‑funded by Trinity Development & Alumni.

What is peer mentoring? 

Peer mentoring connects PhD students to support one another through shared experience and informal guidance. Peer mentoring is not academic supervision or professional counselling, but builds supportive relationships focused on wellbeing, development, and navigating the challenges of doctoral study. 

Benefits 

Mentors

Mentors develop valuable leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills while supporting fellow doctoral researchers. Serving as a mentor provides an opportunity to reflect on your own PhD experience, strengthen problem-solving abilities, and gain confidence in guiding others. The role also offers meaningful professional development, demonstrating commitment to community, collaboration, and service — all valuable for academic and non-academic career paths. For more on how mentoring complements your doctoral journey, see the Mapping Doctoral Skills to Peer Mentoring document. 

Mentees

Mentees gain a supportive space to talk openly about the challenges and uncertainties of doctoral study with someone who understands the PhD experience first-hand. Having a connection with peer mentors can help reduce feelings of isolation, build confidence, and provide practical strategies for managing workload, navigating research culture, and maintaining wellbeing. The mentoring relationship offers reassurance, encouragement, and insight at key stages of the PhD journey. 

How it works 

  • Potential volunteer mentors apply via the Volunteer Application Form (link below).  
  • Once selected, volunteer PhD mentors complete mandatory training, and co-design the mentoring programme, with support from the programme team. 
  • Mentors will work together (with other mentors from their faculty) with a group of new PhD students, also from the same faculty, in a group mentoring model (not one-to-one mentoring). 
  • Mentees from the new March 2026 registration are automatically enrolled. 
  • The Mentoring Programme takes place over nine months (March-November 2026).  
  • The programme will launch with an event including all Mentors and Mentees, along with the Programme Officer and support staff. 
  • During the programme mentors will arrange 3 social meetups with their mentees and facilitate 3 themed discussion sessions on PhD related topics. 
  • The mentors are supported throughout the programme by the Programme Officer, Postgraduate Advisory Service and Student Counselling Service. 
  • The programme will conclude with a final ‘recognition’ event, where Mentors and Mentees come together to celebrate the successful completion of the programme, and Mentors receive a mentor certificate. 

 

Find out more 

Want to know more? Come along to the information session on Wednesday 4 February to find out more about how you can get involved in this innovative pilot project (PhD Peer Mentoring Volunteer Information Session - sign up), or contact the Programme Officer, Dr Jemimah Bailey on email at PPGN@tcd.ie. 

 

How to apply to be a PhD Mentor 

  • Read the PhD Mentor Volunteer Role Description document and the Volunteer Agreement document (link below). 
  • Attend the optional information session (see above). 
  • Applications will be reviewed after the closing date 12 noon Friday 20 February 2026, and successful applicants will be contacted by 25/26 February. 
  • Volunteers must be available to complete the mandatory training on Tuesday 3 March (10am-2pm). 

 

Contact 

Programme Officer: Dr Jemimah Bailey (PPGN@tcd.ie)

Volunteer Role Description

Volunteer Agreement

Volunteer Application Form

Mapping Doctoral Skills to Peer Mentoring

Postgraduate Research Lifecycle

Campanile TCD

FAQs

General FAQs

The PPGN is a pilot project running during 2026, delivered by the Postgraduate Renewal Programme, and in collaboration with the Postgraduate Advisory Service and Student Counselling Service. It aims to strengthen the support framework for doctoral students, to enhance postgraduate wellbeing and foster an inclusive and thriving research community. 

Mentors and mentees are grouped within the same faculty in a group mentoring model. Over the course of the programme, mentors organise social meetups and facilitate topic-based sessions to support new PhD students in adjusting to doctoral life. 

No. The programme uses a group mentoring model, where mentors work with a small group of mentees rather than having individual mentoring pairs. 

The programme runs for nine months, from March to November 2026. 

The Programme is being piloted with the PhD March 2026 student intake, with all new entrants automatically included as mentees in the initiative.  Students may opt out of the initiative by contacting the Programme Officer, Dr Jemimah Bailey at PPGN@tcd.ie.

It is expected that participants engage regularly. While occasional absence may be unavoidable, consistent participation is encouraged to get the most from the programme. 

As this is a pilot, at the end of the mentoring programme there will be an evaluation process to measure the impact of the project and recommendations for future mentoring activities will be developed. 

Mentor Questions

PhD students typically in Year 2+ of their doctoral studies, (or towards the end of their Yr1) who wish to support new PhD students can apply through the Volunteer Application Form no later than Friday, 20th of February, 2026.

No. We are looking for friendly, committed PhD students who enjoy supporting others and contributing to a welcoming research community. You do not need to be an expert — we value personal qualities and lived experience as much as formal skills.  

All eligible applicants are welcome, and we strongly encourage applications from students with: 

  • Cross-cultural experience or international backgrounds.
  • Experience supporting or belonging to underrepresented groups.
  • Lived experience related to:
    • Ethnicity and cultural diversity 
    • LGBTQ+ communities 
    • Disability and neurodiversity 
    • First-generation or widening participation backgrounds 

Potential mentors apply through the online Volunteer Application Form, no later than Friday, 20th of February.

Yes. All selected mentors must complete mandatory training before the programme begins. The mandatory training is scheduled for the morning of Tuesday, 3rd of March, 2026.

Mentors will: 

  • Complete training and participate in programme co-design 
  • Support a group of mentees from their faculty 
  • Organise 3 informal social meetups 
  • Facilitate 3 themed discussion sessions related to the PhD experience 
  • Send out regular email communications to the mentee group 

 

For more details, please see the Volunteer Role Description document. 

Peer mentoring provides a wide range of opportunities to develop skills and experiences as part of your doctoral journey. See the Mapping Doctoral Skills to Peer Mentoring document for specific examples of this. 

Mentee FAQs

The programme is designed for new first year PhD students who want additional peer support during their early doctoral journey. 

The Programme is being piloted with the PhD March 2026 student intake, with all new entrants automatically included as mentees in the initiative.  If you are unsure whether you are included, please contact the Programme Officer at PPGN@tcd.ie.

Topics may include: 

  • settling into PhD life 
  • managing workload 
  • wellbeing 
  • research culture 
  • building networks 

Content is co-designed by mentors during training. 

No formal preparation is required. Participation involves attending sessions and engaging in discussions. 

Support & Practical FAQs

Mentors are supported by the Programme Officer, Postgraduate Advisory Service and Student Counselling Service throughout the programme, and there will be regular check-ins with the support team. 

Alongside the regular check-ins for mentors, participants can contact the Programme Officer at any time with concerns, and support can be arranged where needed. 

Yes. All participants are expected to respect confidentiality within mentoring groups. 

Time commitment varies slightly by group, but mentors should expect to attend training (4 hours), organise meetings, and engage regularly with their mentee group over the 9 month programme (averaging approximately 1 hour per week). 

Yes. Mentors will receive a mentor certificate at the programme’s recognition event.