Become a UniGuide

UniGuides are student mentors who help new students settle into university life. As a UniGuide, you'll support students through their transition to university, helping them connect with others, navigate campus and discover the services, resources and opportunities available at the University of Auckland. Drawing on your own university experience, you'll help new students build confidence and make a successful start to university life.

Key expectations and responsibilities: 

• Provide a warm welcome during orientation and beyond.
• Show new students around campus, highlighting key locations like the library, student services and great food spots.
• Share practical tips on how to use university portals, find timetables and manage your study workload.
• Encourage social connections by inviting your buddies to university events.

What we are looking for in our UniGuides: 

• Current student status: you are an undergraduate or postgraduate student who has completed at least one full semester at our university and will be enrolled in 2027. 
• Strong communication: friendly, approachable and comfortable speaking with people from diverse backgrounds and in bigger groups. 
• Reliability: committed to the programme and indicated timelines including trainings and able to follow instructions. 
• Positive attitude: passionate about our university community and eager to help others succeed. 
• Continuous learning: receive feedback with an open mind and adjust behaviour accordingly.  

What’s in it for you? 

• Enhance your employability: gain valuable leadership, communication and mentoring experience. 
• Official recognition: receive a certificate of participation and recognition at the end of each semester. Your hours in the programme can count towards your co-curricular record through the Community Engagement path. 
• Expand your network: make new friends from diverse backgrounds.  
• Give back: help our new students settle into university life. 
• Opportunities: access to free volunteer training sessions and appreciation events.
• Paid work: you may be able to take up a casual UniGuide leader role after one year as a UniGuide volunteer. 

The peak periods when Uniguides need to be available are during Orientation week and the week prior: 

• Semester One Orientation: 17-26 February 2027 
• Semester Two Orientation: 7-16 July 2027 

The above times are when we need you to be available. However, there may be other times during the year when we would like you to engage with the programme. 

• Submit your Expression of Interest (EoI) by the deadline: Monday 19 October 2026.
• After we have reviewed all submissions we will be in touch to let you know the outcome of your EoI.
• If successful we will invite you to a group interview after the exam period (with options to join online).
• After the interview we will let you know whether we’d like you to join the UniGuide programme in 2027.
• If you have been a UniGuide in 2026 or prior and are interested in joining the programme again, please ensure you submit a new EoI for the 2027 Programme. You will not be required to go through the interview process again.