Darcye Lovsin
Aisha Ashraf
Sumayah Rahman
Transitioning to Higher Education is more than a change of location or timetable; it is an entry into a new way of learning and thinking. At university, students are expected not only to absorb knowledge but to actively shape their own learning journeys. That requires developing habits of independence, reflection, curiosity, and resilience.
The Get Ahead and Peer Assisted Study Support (PASS) programmes, hosted within the Academic Skills Centre in Library Services, are designed to support students as they make this transition. Together, they provide a framework of academic and personal development opportunities — from independent study skills and digital learning readiness to mentoring, belonging, and resilience. These initiatives help students build confidence, develop academic competencies, and engage with the Queen Mary community as part of a solid foundation for university success.
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Supporting students in transition
Developed during the pandemic, Get Ahead began as a small working group producing online materials to help new students understand what university life would be like and what would be expected of them as independent learners. It has since evolved into a comprehensive, student-informed programme supporting offer-holders and first-year students — whether joining from A levels, international study, or after time away.
Now hosted publicly on the Library Services website, it offers practical resources and activities on topics such as time management, academic integrity, reflection, feedback, and communication. Its student-led approach is central: Library Student Partners (LSPs) co-design and deliver events such as the Get Ahead Summer Series, which included Instagram Lives, a Welcome Week Symposium, and the “Life as a Student” board game. These authentic, peer-driven activities help new students feel informed, connected, and represented.
“As a Library Student Partner, working with staff as well as students on the Get Ahead project has been super transformative in terms of developing my skill set, and my understanding of the importance of university services. Contributing the student perspective to the library's events has been fruitful and noticing the ways in which new and incoming students engaged with our program such as the “Life as a Student” board game and the symposium, was incredibly affirming as well as exciting. Overall, I am super pleased with the outcomes of the Summer Series and feel certain in its vitality within the library's services.”
Sumayah, Library Student Partner
Building skills and belonging through peer learning
Both Get Ahead and PASS recognise that students learn best through interaction, discussion, and connection. Get Ahead offers structured, student-led activities, while PASS builds on this through collaborative mentoring sessions within Schools.
Earlier Get Ahead activities, such as a pre-semester book club, evolved into the Summer Series in response to student questions about daily university life. These events fostered community and helped new students picture themselves as part of the University . When students see peers who have successfully navigated the same transition, the experience feels more achievable, while also reinforcing belonging and engagement — two key predictors of success in Higher Education.
Belonging is seen as a shared responsibility between students, staff, and the institution. Initiatives like the Get Ahead Summer Series and PASS create spaces where students can connect across Schools, meet peers and alumni, and discuss both academic expectations and wellbeing. Designed and led by students, these initiatives foster genuine community and long-term connections. Feeling part of the Queen Mary community also encourages participation and risk-taking, while resilience, developed through practice, enables students to adapt, learn from feedback, and manage competing demands. By engaging with resources and peer support, students learn to recover from setbacks and move forward with confidence.
Developing habits for lifelong learning
While Get Ahead and PASS are rooted in the transition into university, their impact extends far beyond the first few weeks. They aim to develop underlying skills and mindsets that support academic and personal growth throughout a student’s degree and beyond.
Queen Mary views transition as a continuum encompassing three stages: access to university, success during, and progression from university. Get Ahead supports that initial phase, helping students make sense of new expectations and ways of learning. As students progress, PASS and the wider Academic Skills Centre provide opportunities to practise, reflect, and extend these skills by supporting the continuous development that carries them through their studies and into their future careers. Both programmes provide valuable opportunities for those in student roles to develop transferable skills and experience that enhance their employability. Many students later find, for example, that the presentation and communication skills they practised at university, often nervously at first, become vital in the workplace. What once felt like a challenge transforms into confidence and professional competence, showing how early experiences lay the groundwork for success beyond university.
“Being a Library Student Partner has developed my confidence in working on projects, communication skills and shown me how important collaboration is when supporting students transition in Higher Education. I enjoyed working on the Get Ahead series and felt accomplished and empowered to work on a project that builds a sense of belonging, community, and helped new students feel confident and connected. While simultaneously being a PASS student organiser, I have developed leadership and organizational skills. Additionally, I have seen firsthand how peer support is significant to successful university study. Both roles have taught me the value of helping others grow whilst growing yourself.”
Aisha, Library Student Partner
Making the most of support
Queen Mary offers a rich network of academic, professional, and peer-led services, and students are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities from the start of their academic career. The Academic Skills Centre, Get Ahead , and PASS work alongside Library Services, Student Wellbeing and Careers and Enterprise to help students build the full range of skills and attributes that define a successful graduate.
Our advice to new students is to make the most of the support services available. Seek support early, explore what is available, and find what works best for you. Asking questions, attending workshops, and engaging with peers are not signs of struggle, rather the actions of a reflective and motivated learner. Our role as staff and peers is to ensure that students always have somewhere to turn, and that they know we are here to help every step of the way.