8 April 2026

Dear CADS student,

Do you want to play a crucial role in fostering a strong CADS community? Are you interested in acquiring new skills and gaining valuable extracurricular experience? Consider becoming a peer mentor in the upcoming academic year (2026-2027)! CADS is looking for enthusiastic and committed peer mentors to guide new first-year students through the start of their study programme.

Starting university can be both exciting and terrifying. As a peer mentor, you will be trained to help first-year students find their way in our institute and familiarise themselves with studying and living in Leiden/the Netherlands. Together with a co-mentor, you will supervise a group of first-year CADS students. You will act as a role model and first point of contact for your group, as well as facilitate several meetings aiming to help students feel at home at Leiden University, practice their study skills, and take ownership of their study trajectory at CADS.

Your tasks in a nutshell

• Prepare and run mentor meetings in the first semester, including the introduction day (together with a fellow mentor);
• Answer practical questions from students in your groups;
• Facilitate your group’s connection to the CADS study programme and to each other;
• Be an accessible point of contact for your mentor group throughout their first semester;
• Stay in contact with students, their tutor and the study adviser.

What we offer

• Full-day training in which you will acquire mentoring and inclusive facilitation skills;
• Supervision and group intervision;
• Responsibility and experience in facilitating group meetings and guiding fellow students;
• A larger (international) network of fellow CADS mentors, students and faculty staff;
• Financial compensation under the position of ‘student assistant’ in accordance with the collective labour agreement of Leiden University (on average 2 hours per week between September-December);
• A great extracurricular activity to list on your CV!

Requirements for becoming a peer mentor

• You are registered as a CADS bachelor student (second year or higher) in the academic year 2026-2027;
• You are available during the first semester (on average 2 hours per week, but you will need to commit more time in the first few weeks, and less time in the second block);
• You are motivated, enthusiastic, and interested in helping fellow students;
• You have good communication skills in English;
• You are interested in group dynamics/facilitation and speaking in front of a group;
• You are able to attend the preparatory training (TBA, likely in the final week of August);
• You are able to attend the CADS Introduction Day (Monday 31 August);
• You are legally able to work in the Netherlands and you have, or are able to acquire, Dutch basic health insurance (required for employment to Leiden University).