A key part of your experience in the Department of Social Policy this year will be the interactions you will have with, and as a part of, your Academic Mentor Group.
LSE is defined by excellent research and high-quality education, but also by the opportunity it gives you to make valuable connections and friendships which will not only support you this year, but will last long after you graduate.
In the Department, an important way that we support the development of these friendships and support networks is through the creation of Academic Mentor Groups – small groups of students who have the same Academic Mentor and who may work together through the year with each other and their Academic Mentor, as well as on Departmental academic and community activities.
Here are some of the things you will experience, as part of your AcademicMentor Group, this year.
‘Meet Your Academic Mentor’
In your first few weeks of Autumn Term, each Academic Mentor Group will be asked to arrange to meet their Academic Mentor with a view to creating a social media submission addressing the question ‘What is ISPP’ (for BSc and MSc International Social and Public Policy students) or ‘What is CJP’ (for students of MSc Criminal Justice Policy) in a way related to the work of their Mentor.
The results will feed-in to your Programme, and some of your submissions will be selected to feature on the Department's Social Media platforms.
'Meet your Academic Mentor' briefs
SP100/SP403 – Academic and Professional Skills Development
The Department arranges an Academic and Professional Skills Development programme to support and bolster the skills of Social Policy students. The Programme is designed both to support you to develop the academic skills you will need while at LSE; and to develop skills that will help you beyond LSE in work or further research.
For first year BSc students taking SP100, for the sessions which are co-run with LSE LIFE, you will be tasked with follow on discussions in your Academic Mentor groups after your key skills sessions have taken place.
Undergraduates undertake Academic and Professional Skills Development classes on their SP100 core course.
For MSc students taking SP403, this skills development programme will provide skills related exercises for your Academic Mentor Group through the year, related to the themes of the week on the Programme.
MSc students will receive these sessions through the SP403 course, which you are strongly advised to select as part of your Graduate Course Selection: the course is non-assessed and non-credit bearing, so it does not reduce the number of option courses you can take!
Dissertation Support (PG students)
Mentor Groups are a great source of support for your Dissertation. You can get feedback on ideas, advice and discuss your thoughts with your fellow students. In addition, the SP498/SP499 Dissertation support teaching, will provide exercises for Mentor Groups related to the teaching on those courses, designed to help you develop your ideas and approach to your dissertation.
Other Mentor-group Based Activities
- You are also encouraged to use opportunities to meet with your Academic Mentor in a group setting where appropriate. You can talk to your Academic Mentor more about this in your first meetings with them. You can also find out more about this via the Academic Mentor Group meeting schedules, which you can find here for both BSc and MSc students.
- If you are an undergraduate student, you will be invited to take part in some peer support training which you are encouraged to attend in your Academic Mentor groups.
- Your Mentor group is also a good source of social support, and you should feel free to organize your own Academic Mentor Group events with one another!