Applicant Mentoring Scheme

We offer applicants, who meet are eligible for a guaranteed interview, an opportunity to apply to our applicant mentoring programme. Applicants who are accepted onto the mentoring programme will receive four mentoring sessions, with trained DTP student mentor, during the application process.

  • Meeting one: (14-16 January 2026) A brief pre-application discussion with the mentor
  • Meeting two: (early in week of 19 January 2026) An application writing support session
  • Meeting three: (mid-late February 2026) An interview preparation session
  • Meeting four: (after 13 April 2026) A post application outcome reflection session

To be eligible to receive mentoring, applicants must:

  1. Hold UK/RoI fee status for 2026 entry
  2. Identify as:
    1. Black, African, Caribbean or Black British
    2. Asian or Asian British
    3. Belonging to mixed or multiple ethnic groups
  3. Hold or expect to obtain a minimum of a 2.1 undergraduate degree in a relevant subject, or equivalent qualification
  4. Meet the essential criteria described in the project’s student profile (see project advert)

Priority will be given to applicants who meet the above criteria and also identify with one of the following:

  • Have ever been in receipt of free school meals
  • Are the first in their family to attend higher education
  • Have completed/are completing their undergraduate studies at a non-Russell Group university

How to request a mentor

If you are eligible to apply to the guaranteed interview scheme and would like to meet with a mentor, please complete the personal details, education information and equality, diversity and inclusion sections of the online application form. You must do this before 10:00 (GMT) on Friday 9 January 2026.

If you are eligible for the scheme, we will contact you shortly after 12 January with details of your proposed mentor. Please note: We will only share your name and email address with mentors. Other personal information will be kept confidential and used by the DTP office if we need to prioritise applications according to the eligibility scheme criteria.
Please do not request a mentor after the closing date for this scheme (10:00 on 9 January 2026). We will not be able to assign you a mentor after this date.