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PhD Peer Guidance Network
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The PhD Peer Guidance Network (PPGN) is a pilot initiative, delivered by the Postgraduate Renewal Programme in collaboration with the Postgraduate Advisory Service and Student Counselling Service, aiming to support doctoral researchers as they transition into doctoral study.
Through peer mentoring, peer learning and community-building activities, the programme helps doctoral researchers build meaningful connections, develop a strong sense of belonging within the Trinity community, and access guidance and support from more experienced peers. The programme seeks to create the conditions for doctoral researchers to thrive academically, personally and socially throughout their research journey.
The initiative contributes to Trinity's strategic commitment to enhancing student belonging and connection, supporting wellbeing, and fostering an inclusive, engaged and thriving research culture.
This initiative is co‑funded by Trinity Development & Alumni.
PPGN currently consists of the Peer Mentoring Programme and the Belonging and Connection Activities.
Peer Mentoring Programme:
Faculty-based mentoring groups led by experienced PhD researchers.
Peer mentoring enables PhD students to learn from and support one another through shared experience, mutual encouragement and informal guidance, helping to strengthen connection, confidence and belonging within the doctoral community. Peer mentoring is not academic supervision or professional counselling, but builds supportive relationships focused on wellbeing, development, and navigating the challenges of doctoral study.
Meet the 2026 PhD Peer Mentor Team here: Meet the Mentors
PPGN Mentors
Mentors develop valuable leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills while supporting fellow doctoral researchers. Serving as a mentor provides an opportunity to reflect on their 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, inclusion and service, while contributing positively to the culture and wellbeing of the wider doctoral research community.
Belonging & Connection Activities:
Events, discussions and informal opportunities designed to help doctoral researchers connect with one another, build supportive networks and develop a strong sense of belonging within Trinity's research community.
These activities are designed to complement the mentoring programme and provide low-pressure opportunities for doctoral researchers to:
- Meet other PhD students
- Learn from more experienced researchers
- Explore life at Trinity
- Participate in discussions on common PhD themes
- Build networks across faculties and disciplines
Example activities may include:
- Welcome events
- Informal lunch meet-ups
- Campus and Trinity activities
- Online events
- Peer-led discussions
PhD Peer Guides
PhD Peer Guides are experienced doctoral researchers who contribute to PPGN Belonging & Connection activities by sharing their experiences, insights and perspectives on doctoral study. Peer Guides help to create opportunities for peer learning, connection, belonging and community engagement, contributing to a welcoming and supportive doctoral environment, by taking part in discussions, welcome events, community activities and informal get-togethers.
Unlike PPGN Mentors, Peer Guides do not support a specific group of students on an ongoing basis. Instead, they contribute flexibly to activities throughout the year, helping new and continuing PhD students build connections, navigate doctoral study and feel part of the wider Trinity research community.
Supporting a Thriving Doctoral Community
The PhD Peer Guidance Network supports Trinity's commitment to creating an engaged, healthy and inclusive university community where doctoral researchers can build meaningful connections, develop a strong sense of belonging and thrive throughout their research journey.
Find out more
Want to know more? Contact the Programme Officer, Dr Jemimah Bailey on email at PPGN@tcd.ie
FAQs
What is the PhD Peer Guidance Network (PPGN)?
The PhD Peer Guidance Network (PPGN) is a pilot initiative designed to support doctoral researchers as they transition into doctoral study and progress through their PhD journey. Through peer mentoring, peer learning opportunities and community-building activities, PPGN helps PhD students build connections, develop a sense of belonging within the Trinity research community, learn from the experiences of more established researchers and engage more fully in the academic and social life of the university. The pilot is running until early 2027 and will help inform future approaches to enhancing doctoral researcher experience, belonging, wellbeing and community at Trinity.
What is the difference between Peer Mentoring and Belonging & Connection activities?
PPGN currently consists of two complementary elements:
Peer Mentoring provides structured support through faculty-based mentoring groups led by experienced PhD students. Mentors facilitate discussions, organise activities and share their experiences of doctoral study.
Belonging & Connection Activities are open events and activities designed to help doctoral researchers connect with one another, share experiences, explore common challenges and build a sense of community across schools and faculties. These activities may include welcome events, discussion sessions, informal meet-ups and peer-led events.
Do I have to be part of the mentoring programme to attend Belonging & Connection activities?
No. Belonging & Connection activities are designed to be open and accessible to a wider range of doctoral researchers. Depending on the activity, participation may be open to all PhD students or to specific cohorts. Details of eligibility and registration will be provided for individual events.
Who can become a Peer Guide?
PhD Peer Guides are typically doctoral researchers in Year 2 and above who are interested in sharing their experiences and contributing to the wider doctoral community.
Peer Guides support PPGN by contributing to discussions, events and community activities. Current PPGN Mentors, former mentoring participants and other experienced PhD researchers are all welcome to express interest in becoming a Peer Guide. For more information about becoming a Peer Guide, contact the Programme Officer on email at PPGN@tcd.ie
What kinds of activities does PPGN offer?
PPGN activities may include:
- Faculty-based mentoring discussions
- Themed peer discussion sessions
- Welcome events
- Informal social and networking opportunities
- Bring Your Own Lunch meet-ups
- Experience-sharing sessions with more experienced researchers
- Belonging & Connection activities
- Online events and discussions
- Campus and Trinity-based activities
Activities are developed in response to student feedback and may vary throughout the academic year.
How does the mentoring programme work?
PPGN uses a group mentoring model, rather than one-to-one mentoring.
Experienced PhD Mentors work together with a group of doctoral researchers from their faculty to facilitate discussions, organise activities and share experiences relevant to doctoral study. Topics may include settling into doctoral life, research culture, wellbeing, teaching, conferences, academic development and building professional networks.
Mentors are supported throughout the programme by the Programme Officer, Postgraduate Advisory Service and Student Counselling Service.
Is the programme compulsory?
No. Participation in PPGN activities is voluntary.
Some cohorts may be automatically included in programme communications as part of a pilot phase, but students are free to decide how much they would like to engage with activities. Participation can range from attending a single event to becoming regularly involved in mentoring and community activities throughout the year.
How long does the programme run?
The current PPGN pilot is running until early 2027. Activities take place throughout the year and include both the Peer Mentoring Programme and Belonging & Connection activities.
Students may choose to participate in individual events, specific elements of the programme, or engage more regularly over the course of the year. As a pilot initiative, activities may evolve in response to participant feedback and evaluation findings, helping us identify the most effective ways to support doctoral researchers at Trinity.
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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:
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- Ethnicity and cultural diversity
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- LGBTQ+ communities
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- Disability and neurodiversity
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- 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. A limited number of places are also available for PhD students from the September 2025 cohort. 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.