Foundation Year Mentoring

For the 2026/27 academic year, all new foundation year students will be matched with a mentor as standard as part of our pilot opt-out Peer Mentor programme with the Foundation College.

If you are a current SOAS who has previously completed a Foundation Year and you are interested in helping new Foundation Year students joining SOAS, search for ‘Peer Mentoring’ on the MySOAS Student pages, or email peermentoring@soas.ac.uk to register your interest.

The Student Experience team recruits and trains returning SOAS students, some of whom have previously completed a Foundation Year and understand the unique nature of the programme. Matches are made based on the students’ departments of study, or shared identifying characteristics. 

Your Foundation Year Peer Mentor can answer questions that you have and meet with you in person or online to help with a wide range of queries. As well as reflecting on their own experience of arriving and starting their studies at SOAS, including how they found support and what resources they would recommend, Foundation Year Peer Mentors can signpost you to a wide range of additional support services available at SOAS.

A Foundation Year Peer Mentor can help you to settle in at SOAS, answering questions you may have and helping you to become familiar with campus. Your Foundation Year Peer Mentor can speak to you about your desired programme of study after you complete your Foundation Year, including modules and department-specific advice. 

Foundation Year Mentors can signpost you to other support services around SOAS, including Student Advice and Wellbeing, the Study Skills team, and the SOAS Careers Service. Meeting with your Foundation Year Mentor is a great way to get to know other students at SOAS.