Peer Support

Support from fellow students who have been where you are now!

The School is running two Peer Support schemes in 2018/2019.

You can also email the Peer Support volunteers at any time, on hca-peer@ed.ac.uk, and they will be happy to give help and advice.

History and Classics Peer Mentoring is a student-led Peer Support Scheme which aims to ease your transition into University life. Supporting you to managing the change in educational expectations and attainment. HC Mentoring offers a blend of social and academic sessions; creating a safe space to make new friends, adjust to university academic and social life, and encouraging students to become autonomous and self-reliant learners. HC Mentoring also offers first year History and Classics students 1:1 mentoring with a trained student Leader, mentoring can offer a safe space to students to support them with adjusting to University life. All of the volunteer HC Peer Mentors are students from second to fourth year, with diverse experiences in studying History and/or Classics.

• Week 4 – Thursday 11th October,  6pm-7pm, Middle Reading Room, Teviot Row House: 

  Meet and greet - to tell you about all the academic and social events were have lined up for this semester. This is a chance to come and learn about how we (friendly 3rd and 4th year History and Classics students) can help you at university. Come along, see what we're about and meet some of the student volunteers this year!

• Week 5 – Essay Tips Session
• Week 6 -  Budget Session
• Week 7 -  Study Abroad session

• Week 8 – Bonfire Night Social (Calton Hill)

• Week 9 – tbc

• Week 10 – Exam revision session 

• Week 11 – Christmas markets / light show social

ArchaeologyPALS (ArchPALS) is a student-led project which aims to help first year Archaeology students transition into University life, make friends, improve their grades, and get used to studying in their discipline. Sessions are led by trained Student Leaders in second year and above, who run structured activities on course content, field work, exam revision and essay writing sessions. Sessions are designed to help students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in their degrees, whilst also helping them to make friends and join the School community. Sessions will likely run every week, and last for about an hour.

ArchPALS sessions will run from 1-2, every Tuesday in G.14 in the Medical School. The schedule for Semester 1 is below.

• 25th September: Intro to using University resources (MyEd, Learn, How to take notes/ approach lectures, a tour)
• 2nd October: What is Archaeology? What do students think it is, what has your experience been? How to approach reading, and what to do with it.
• 9th October: Terminology session. ‘Do you speak Archaeology?’
• 16th October: Short report session
• 23rd October: Timelines and mid-term review
• 30th October: tbc
• 6th November: Essay writing 1
• 13th November: Essay writing 2
• 20th November: Exam session 1
• 27th November: Exam session 2