The Professional Mentoring scheme is a six-month programme that pairs students with industry professionals in order to develop their skills, confidence and future employability.
The student applications for the March 2026 mentoring cohort is now closed.
This programme is designed to support 2nd- and 3rd‑year undergraduates, postgraduates, and recent graduates who:
are the first generation in their family to attend university, OR
have had limited or no work experience and would like support in identifying and communicating the skills gained through their studies,
are at a career crossroads, lacking confidence, or unsure how to take the next steps toward their intended career,
are embarking on a new career path through postgraduate study.
*Students who meet any of the following criteria are guaranteed an interview during the selection process:
consider themselves to be disabled,
have spent time in Local Authority care,
are mature students.
Why join the Professional Mentoring scheme at City St George's?
Gain an excellent opportunity to develop your confidence and employability skills.
Receive one‑to‑one support with your CV, applications, interview skills, and career planning.
Learn about your chosen field, industry recruitment processes, and the wider labour market.
Build a pathway toward becoming a highly employable and competitive graduate.
Grow your professional network through meaningful new connections.
Our mentors
Our professional mentors come from a variety of professional backgrounds and have developed comprehensive knowledge and expertise within their field.
73% of our mentors are alumni of City St George's.
Over 20 of our mentees have recently re-joined the scheme as mentors.
All of our mentors are industry professionals who volunteer their time to support City St George’s students with their personal development.
Award-Winning Programme
The City St George’s Professional Mentoring Team was the winner of the University Mentoring Initiative Award at the Fast Forward 15 Fiesta Mentoring Awards 2026.
The City St George’s Professional Mentoring Team was the winner of the Alumni Engagement Award at the Times Higher Education Leadership & Management Awards 2017.
How to apply
Please read the information carefully to understand the nature of the scheme and the commitment required before you apply.
This is a competitive scheme based on need, so please answer questions as clearly as possible. Your answer will help us in assessing whether this is the right opportunity for you.
We will also ask you to upload a jpeg file of yourself (passport photo style) before you submit your application form. Photographs are used by the Professional Mentoring Team as a method of identifying mentee candidates throughout the selection process.
You will receive a confirmation email after you submit your application. All further communication, including confirmation that you have been shortlisted for interview, will take place via email.
If you are shortlisted you will be invited to a 15-minute interview. You must be able to attend an interview and one training session.
If you are shortlisted you will need to log in to CareersHub to select an interview timeslot (offered on a first-come, first-served basis). This will confirm your attendance. More information on the interview booking procedure is provided on the application form. You will need to keep track of this appointment through CareersHub as there will be no further reminders.
Only successful candidates will be contacted and invited to interview. It is important to understand that this programme is designed to assist those with clearly identifiable development needs.
Successful candidates must attend an evening training session and the Introduction Evening where you will meet your mentor for the first time.
Expectations of mentees
As a mentee on this programme you are a representative of City St George's. This is a professional relationship. You are expected to conduct your relationship in a professional manner and in a style befitting your membership of City St George's as a collegiate community.
This is not a work placement or internship scheme but a development opportunity.
You are expected to display a proactive approach to your relationship with your mentor, with a commitment of at least 12 hours of quality contact time with your mentor during the scheme.
The Professional Mentoring team reserves the right to remove students from the process - at any point - if it is assessed that selected participants are not abiding by the etiquette of the scheme and the code of conduct.
Further information
The scheme enables mentors to pass on employability skills, knowledge, and experience and we try to allocate you a mentor from your specific field of study/interest however this cannot always be guaranteed.
The scheme is aimed at students who don't get professional insight into industry as part of their course (e.g. courses that offer work placements as part of the qualification).
If you have been accepted on to our undergraduate stream unfortunately we cannot consider your application for participation in this postgraduate stream. However, if you were not successful in gaining a place on our undergraduate stream and you are now a postgraduate studying at City St George's, you are welcome to apply.
Unfortunately, due to limited time and resources we are unable to provide feedback to unsuccessful candidates.
