Be a PAL leader

PAL Leaders play an important role in helping students to help themselves – whether students are brand new to the University or just in need of additional support to get the most of their UWE Bristol experience.

Becoming a PAL Leader has many benefits:

• develop the soft skills employers look for through planning, organising, time management and liaising with students and staff
• be equipped with mentoring and facilitation techniques
• connect with other students, which will help you form a community during your degree
• undertake the ILM Level 3 Award in Mentoring, which will help you stand out to employers when you graduate
• have the opportunity to attend a series of additional PAL events and conferences at UWE Bristol and externally
• receive payment in return for your work.

We truly value diversity and inclusivity at UWE Bristol and aim to be a university where all people can thrive, succeed, and belong.

In peer assisted learning (PAL) we particularly encourage applications from students who are likely to be under-represented. This includes students from Global Majority heritages, disabled students including neurodivergent students, mature students, LGBTQIA+ students, first in family to go to university students, parents, carers, and students who access UWE Cares.

We have a number of inclusive recruitment practices so please contact the PAL team at pal@uwe.ac.uk if you would like to discuss different formats for submitting your PAL Leader application.

The role of a PAL Leader depends on the scheme you are applying for. It is important that you think at this stage about how you will manage your time to ensure that you are able to continue your role throughout the academic year.

If you are in your final year or are juggling other commitments alongside your studies, we would strongly recommend you opt for Workshop PAL leader role.

Please note that most PAL sessions take place in person on campus but some sessions are online.

• You must have the right to work in the UK and be a current UWE Bristol student when applying to become a PAL Leader and for the entire academic year.
• Please do not apply if you are not based at Frenchay, Glenside or City Campus. Most of our PAL schemes are facilitated on campus rather than online.
• If applying for Programme PAL, you are in the year above or in your final year of the same undergraduate programme.
• You must also apply to a specific scheme on the application form so please select your College from the list to see if your programme is included.
• If your undergraduate programme does not appear on the list, please email the PAL team at pal@uwe.ac.uk for further information.
• If you wish to apply for two different roles i.e. Academic Skills PAL and Workshop PAL, please complete two separate application forms.
• We welcome applications from postgraduate students for Wellbeing PAL, Espresso Science PAL and Academic Skills PAL.

Qualities and skills required

We expect all PAL Leaders to demonstrate the following personal qualities, which will be assessed through the recruitment and selection process:

• empathy
• resilience
• enthusiasm
• reliability.

We are also looking for PAL Leaders who will be able to demonstrate all or most of the following skills:

• good listening and communication skills
• experience of supporting and helping others
• initiative and resourcefulness
• effective self-organisational and time management skills.

Recruitment for our 2025-26 PAL leader and mentor roles will start mid-March 2025. The online application form will initially be open to students studying on certain courses. These courses will be listed here shortly.

Before starting your role, you will receive asynchronous training through online workbooks (normally in August) and synchronous training in person, on campus in early September, before term starts.

Please check the training dates on the application form before submitting your application, as attendance at this set training programme is mandatory.

PAL Coordinators

PAL Leaders are directly managed by the PAL Team and every PAL scheme has a dedicated PAL Coordinator who is a UWE Bristol member of staff. PAL Coordinators support the specific scheme, providing ongoing advice and guidance to PAL Leaders about content as appropriate. Your initial expectations meeting with your PAL Coordinator will be scheduled before delivering your first session.

Senior PAL Leaders

You will also receive mentoring support from a dedicated Senior PAL Leader who has previous experience in a PAL leading role. You will be observed by your Senior PAL Leader at least once per semester to receive feedback on how to build your strengths and address areas for development.

Monthly group debriefs are led by your Senior PAL Leader and give you the opportunity to share good practice, get ideas for how to improve your sessions from other Leaders and address any challenges.

PAL Leaders are employed as casual workers at Grade B by the University. From January 2024 the hourly rate is £12.00 per hour, plus holiday pay on the total hours worked per month.

PAL sessions are normally 60 minutes, which includes time allocated to complete your register and timesheet.

PAL Leaders receive a flat fee for training, which covers both the asynchronous and synchronous elements.

PAL Leaders are rewarded for session preparation, promotional activity and engagement with their Senior PAL Leader and PAL Coordinator. 

The hours of work are variable depending on the scheme. Typically, PAL Leaders can expect between one and two hours of sessions per week during term time. You will not be allocated more than three hours of sessions per week.