Peer assisted learning scheme (PALS)
Regular study sessions for students, by students

Learning alongside other students on your course can give you a greater opportunity to discuss ideas, broaden your knowledge, gain confidence and make friends.
If your course has PALS, your sessions are intended to help you:
“PALS can be a good support network especially for those for whom University is a new experience and it is also a good way to make friends and expand on social networks.”
“Good advice, not just educational but balancing life and work.”
“Leaders are really friendly and helpful. Like the use of examples to help explain things and variety of topics.”
In a PALS session the PALS Leaders facilitate, they do not teach. PALS Leaders help first-year students to help themselves, give them support and advice, and signpost to places where they can get help. PALS Leaders are passing on their own knowledge and information. Most importantly, they set the climate for discussions within a relaxed and informal student-to-student atmosphere.
PALS is a place where all students can dictate the content of a session, can steer sessions towards topics that they really want to cover and can participate in a relaxed, safe environment away from tutors and lecturers. Sessions at the start are usually very much focused on settling in and getting oriented around the campus, whilst later sessions are more linked to things that first-year students have covered in lectures or workshops, as well as developing their study skills.
Arts and humanities
Health and human sciences
Science and engineering
If you love PALS and your academic programme includes PALS, why not apply to become a PALS leader?
"The reaction from the students is great, and the feeling that you’re doing something worthwhile and helping them through their first term is even better."
Could you run regular study sessions? Lead discussion and revision? Encourage and develop academic skills? Do you want to develop your own skills?
Discover everything you need to know about becoming a PALS leader
Student Hub, The Charles Seale-Hayne Library, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA