Transitions and Mentoring Toolkit

Welcome to the Transitions and Mentoring Toolkit.

This is a place where you can find information and support whether you are an international student or staff working with international students in a mentoring or other role.

Below you can find the different sections that together make the Transitions and Mentoring Toolkit.

African international student studying in Edinburgh

A toolkit for international students and Mastercard Foundation Scholars to navigate the challenges of transition.

Group of African scholars outside country house

The Transitions and Mentoring Toolkit has directly emerged from the Identities in Transition research project, which was funded by the Mastercard Foundation Partners Research Fund.

Mentor supporting African international student

A toolkit for staff to support international students and Mastercard Foundation Scholars.

Laptop on desk showing Identities in Transition Photovoice book

This photovoice book captures the experiences of twelve African students who made the journey from their respective home countries in Africa to universities in the UK and North America.

What do we mean by "transition"?

Transition can involve separation from the familiar things one knows, and the creation of new meaningful connections with new environments. Transition can involve change and uncertainty, thus evoking many strong and often mixed feelings that can drive someone towards reassessing their perspectives and acknowledging their values.

This Toolkit focuses on three areas of transition that our team has identified as key aspects of Mastercard Foundation Scholars’ experiences: academic transitions, cultural transitions and transitions for wellbeing.

If you have questions, didn’t find the things you needed, or have any feedback about the site - please email us at mcfsp@ed.ac.uk.

We want to help and are always looking to improve.

Lead authors: Christina Sachpasidi and Tobias Thejll-Madsen.