Mentors Guide

Welcome to the Departments Research Students Peer Mentoring Program.

The first year of your PhD can be a difficult time - it can be difficult making the transition to a research degree and you may also have moved to a new area or discipline.

In order to help new PGRs through their first year the mentors team provide support for a series of events and offer advice in a variety of different ways.

The mentoring service is a simple, informal, way for you to get extra help and advice about studying for a PhD at the University of Manchester from those who have been through it before you. It is open to all PhD Students in the School.

Important

Mentors Drop in Get help, advice, clarification or sign-posting from the Mentors or Senior PGR at the drop in session; when you don’t want to talk with the academic or PS staff. Drop in changes - ask via the PGR Discord Server 1

The mentoring service is a simple, informal, way for you to get extra help and advice about studying for a PhD at the University of Manchester from those who have been through it before you. It is open to all PGRs in the Department.

Getting support from a mentor

The mentoring scheme links incoming 1st year Research Students (mentees) with 2nd or 3rd years (mentors) within their school. The mentors offer help and advice on settling in Manchester and a range of issues related to undertaking postgraduate study.

We have a number of 2nd and 3rd year PhD students who have been trained as mentors who you can contact with a range of queries or concerns including:

  • A student perspective on key stages of your research - report submission, vivas.

  • Help with administrative arrangements within your department- using the computing facilities, getting a student card.

  • Suggestions for other sources of help and advice.

  • Information about Manchester and the local area.

  • Tours of the campus and/or department.

Warning

Mentors are neither trained counsellors nor academic staff (yet). The help and advice offered is always given with the proviso that it is derived from the mentor’s personal experience alone. If professional help is required the mentoring documentation contains a range of contact numbers.

Limitations to support

Mentors are not here to help you write your PhD thesis. They will be able to give you tips and suggestions on how to motivate yourself but are not equipped to give advice on content of submissions. For academic queries, you should deal with your supervisor, advisor or other members of staff.

Contacting the Mentors

  1. The Mentors are active on the PGR Discord Server 1 (preferred).

  2. And via the Listserv (will take longer).

Kickstart Guide

Useful resource to help you get going.

General

  1. Register online if you haven’t done so. For IT account: https://iam.manchester.ac.uk/ For student registration: see Helpful Links (Student Centre 5a) (Main Menu -> Self Service -> Student Centre)

  2. Pick up your University Card from Student Services Centre (SSC, near the Main Library) For September starters, this might be in the University Place

  3. How to set up Wifi on campus:
  4. Complete “Extended Hours Access” tests on Blackboard (see Helpful Links (Blackboard 5c): CS-PGR-Welcome -> Extended Hours). Then go to SSO to activate the access.

If you’re new to the UK:

  1. As soon as you have your term-time accommodation:
    • Put your address in Student Centre (see Helpful Links (Student Centre 5a)). Make sure you update your address and phone number information when there are changes

    • Set up your bank account information in the Student Centre (Helpful Links 5a) to be able to receive stipend

  2. Opening a UK bank account:
    • Get a letter confirming your term-time address from SSO

    • With item 6a (and passport, possibly other documents needed) you can now go to a bank and open an account. Call ahead and check what documents to bring. You might need to make an appointment first. Bank branches around here include Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest, Santander, and TSB

  3. Mobile phone:
    • There are several providers you can go to: EE, Giffgaff, O2, Three, Vodafone. You can get free SIM cards easily from most service providers, then just decide whether you want to use (1) Pay as you go, or (2) Monthly plan, depending on your preferences

  4. Accommodation:
    • Students are exempt from council tax. If you receive a letter from the city council, don’t panic. Go to this link and fill out the form https://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/500334/students

    • Starting from June 2019 (The Tenant Fees Act), your landlord or letting agent cannot ask you to pay for referencing, credit and immigration checks, administration fees, and renewing your contract, etc.

  5. GP registration:

For Non-European International PGRs

Whenever you change your UK home address, you must update with the police as well as the university

For Europeans

Check the current regulations about Comprehensive Sickness Insurance (CSI) May not be the case after Brexit…check the new regulations!

Others

  1. Cycling
  2. Shower Facilities are available in Kilburn

  3. You can request a laptop/desktop by following the guide (talk to your supervisor) http://www.itservices.manchester.ac.uk/ourservices/popular/purchasing/work/

  4. Printing in Kilburn
    • on a Linux-based machine, the following should work (if not, get help from the colleagues in your office):

    • Create a file ~/.cups/client.conf

    • In there, put the line ServerName staffprint.cs.man.ac.uk/version=1.1

    • Now you should be able to see all the printers. The one in PGR home is called “pgprt”