Bristol Mentors

We support students who face additional barriers to preparing for their future after university. 

Networking and making connections can be vital to boosting your employability and your confidence. Our mentors are University of Bristol alumni. As former students, they are enthusiastic about helping students grow and develop confidence.

About Bristol Mentors

Bristol Mentors is for you if:

• you have ever wished you could ask someone questions who works in the industry you aspire to work in.
• you would benefit from having a Bristol mentor who can support, advise and help you level the playing field.
• you are unsure of what you want to do after University and don’t know where to start.
• you want to be challenged and develop better communication skills, including giving and receiving feedback.

Enrolling onto this programme will demonstrate to employers that you are proactive and determined to get to where you want to be once you graduate.

Eligibility criteria for Bristol Mentors

To be eligible for the Bristol Mentors scheme, you must be a UK undergraduate student returning for study in September 2026 and meet one or more of the following criteria:

• You received a contextual offer when you applied for your course at Bristol.
• You have received a University of Bristol bursary or scholarship.
• You have completed a University of Bristol outreach programme (for example, Access to Bristol, Discover Bristol, Insight into Bristol).
• You are a disabled or neurodivergent student.
• You have a mental health condition (no diagnosis needed).
• You are a mature student (aged 21 or over at the start of your study programme).
• You were eligible for free school meals at any point between Years 7 to 13 in secondary education.
• You live in an Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) quintile 1 or 2 area (or lived in one at the point of application to study at Bristol). Use this lookup tool to search for your postcode.
• You are a Global Majority student (meaning students from Black, Asian, Arab, Latin-American, Mixed, and Multiple-Ethnic backgrounds).
• You are from a refugee or asylum-seeking community.
• You have spent three months or more in local authority care.
• You are a parent.
• You are estranged from your family.
• You have a parent or carer who has served in the armed forces.

This is a complete list.

If you are an international student, see our Bristol Voices programme for alumni support.

How to apply for Bristol Mentors

Start the application process: expression of interest

The application process will close at 12 am (midnight, UK time) on Monday 27 April. The programme reserves the right to close the application process early if we get enough applications.

Application process

1. Submit expression of interest using “Start application” button.
2. We will check your eligibility and then send you an application form. We recommend saving the link to the form so you can complete it when you are ready.
3. Submit the form. We will be in touch after the deadline.

If you need any help, please contact us.

How to make a good Bristol Mentors application

We recommend spending time writing an application that you can be happy with to give yourself the best chance of being accepted onto the programme.

In your application, you will need to demonstrate:

• Why do you specifically feel you need the support of a mentor?
• How do you intend to utilise your mentorship?
• Evidence that you can commit to the programme and make time to be a reliable student mentee.

Testimonials for Bristol Mentors

Read testimonies (YouTube video) from former participants.

Contact Bristol Mentors team

For any further queries about the programme contact alumni-mentoring@bristol.ac.uk.