What does working as a study support mentor entail?

The role of the study support mentor largely depends on the support needs of the student. Usually, it is a question of helping the student to structure, plan and organise their studies. It may also involve sorting and prioritising assignments and reading, setting intermediary goals and drawing up weekly plans. Sometimes, the study support mentor may also function as a sounding board and a discussion partner. 

The study support mentor does not function as a supervisor or teacher and students are always to do their own study work.

Being a study support mentor requires, on average, two hours per week. The fee per semester is SEK 4,800 before tax for those assignments which have covered an entire semester. In other cases, the fee is calculated according to the percentage of the semester which the assignment covered. 

Please note that you need a Swedish personal identity number (‘personnummer’) to be able to take on a mentoring assignment.

What are the requirements to become a study support mentor?

To start as a study support mentor, you will preferably have been studying for a few semesters and have a well-functioning study situation of your own. We also look for the following qualifications/properties:

• Good ability to plan and structure work
• Calm, secure and patient person
• Experience of motivation and coaching 
• Awareness of how disabilities can affect a person’s study situation

It is often rewarding to be a study support mentor and it may be an additional qualification after graduation. Once you have completed your assignment, you can request a certificate from the Disability Support Service.

Register your interest

You apply by registering your interest in the assignment via the web form below.

Registration of interest to become a study support mentor

Information material for new and current study support mentors

The Mentor Handbook contains important information about the mentorship assignment and tools which may be useful in your future role as a study support mentor.

Mentor Handbook on the website of the National Agency for Special Needs Education and Schools

If you are about to start your mentorship assignment or already have an ongoing assignment, you will find more detailed information on our information page below.

Information for current study support mentors

What does working as a note-taker entail?

The assignment means that you digitally share clear notes after each lecture and seminar, providing them to one or more students who have been granted learning support. Part of the assignment involves sharing the notes with up to three students. This means that more students may be assigned to you after the course has started, if you started with only one. Disability Support Services will contact you if that is the case.

You are not expected to do any additional work on the notes, so we assume that you will share the notes within 24 hours. If you are given an assignment late in a course, you also share your notes from the earlier lectures and seminars on that course. Note-taking support does not apply to notes taken in connection with your own study, e.g. summaries of course literature.

Please note that you need a Swedish personal identity number (‘personnummer’) to be able to take on a note-taking assignment.

Fees

Fees are calculated according to the number of credits that the assignment covers.

Fees before tax:

• 30 credits SEK 3,200
• 15 credits SEK 1,600
• 7.5 credits SEK 800

After the end of the semester, payment will be made within three months, provided that the following has been submitted in time:

• The form for registration for the assignment as a note-taker 
• A confirmation that the assignment was completed.

You can find more information about fees and payments on the page for current note-takers.

Information for current study support mentors and note-takers

What are the requirements to become a note-taker?

When taking on an assignment as a note-taker, being well-organised is an advantage. It is a good idea to prepare yourself by going through relevant course literature ahead of the lecture. That makes it easier to take notes. It is also an appropriate study technique for your own studies.

Expression of interest: For you who lack someone to share your notes with

If you are interested in becoming a note-taker but lack someone to share your notes with, you can register your interest below. Then one of the coordinators will get back to you when there is an available assignment for you.

Expression of interest to become a note-taker

Registration: For you who already have someone to share your notes with

If you already have one or more students to share your notes with, you can register for the assignment below. Please note that it is important that you enter both the first name and surname of the student(s) in the web form. It is required to be able to start an assignment.

Registration for the assignment as a note-taker

I only want to share notes with one other student. Is that possible?

No, when you agree to become a note-taker, you must be prepared to share your notes with up to three students. It is not certain that will be necessary for your course, however. Disability Support Services will contact you, if relevant.

What happens if I become ill?

As a note-taker, you are expected to attend all lectures and seminars, but it is of course acceptable to be ill on occasion. It does not affect your fee. If you are ill, it is important that you notify the student(s) you provide note-taking support for, so that they can try and find another solution.

In the case of longer periods of sick leave, you must also inform Disability Support Services by sending an email to anteckningsstod@stu.lu.se. It may be necessary to end your assignment ahead of schedule, which may affect your fee.

Do I receive a higher fee if I take notes for several students on the same course?

No, the fee is the same regardless of whether you share notes with one or more students on the course. The fee is based on the scope of the course: 30 credits = SEK 3,200, 15 credits = SEK 1,600, 7.5 credits = SEK 800.

Does the note-taking assignment also apply to notes taken in connection with your own study?

No, note-taking support applies only to lectures and seminars. Note-taking support does not apply to notes taken in connection with your own study, e.g. summaries of articles or books.

Do Disability Support Services need to receive the notes?

No, you send your notes directly to the student(s) for whom you are taking notes. All students who receive notes are encouraged to contact us at Disability Support Services if something is not working satisfactorily.

I did not take any notes in the seminar in the first part of the course because I did not think I was going to be providing note-taking support. Will that be okay?

Yes, if it is a matter of a single seminar or lecture, it is not usually a problem. Ask the student(s) for whom you are providing notes which earlier notes they require.

Should I take notes in a particular way?

We expect your notes to be clear, in terms of both structure and language. Beyond that, we understand that different people have different styles of note-taking, which is perfectly okay. The main thing is that the student or students you take notes for understand and are able to follow the notes.

I have several handwritten sets of notes now, but I could use an app to make them digital (e.g. Whitelines). Would that still be acceptable or is computer text a requirement?

It is of course better for student(s) to receive handwritten notes than none at all. We do however prefer notes written on a computer since many students use speech synthesis to read them out loud. The speech synthesis programme requires computer text. It is also easier to share the notes digitally if they are written on a computer.