University to Workplace Transition (UWT)
For graduates
The support built during university does not end abruptly at the point it is often needed most. Graduates keep a familiar mentor through the uncertainty of finishing, applying and starting work.
For universities
Support extends past the last day of term rather than stopping at it, and the strategies a student developed travel with them into employment.
For employers
A smoother transition into the workforce means more engaged employees, greater confidence and faster skill development, improving retention and loyalty.
What the UWT is
Mentoring across the gap, not up to it
The UWT sessions continue the foundation of support built during university mentoring. Transition mentoring aims to help the student with containment and processing of emotions during a time of uncertainty, to support confidence and provide encouragement, to be a trusting and reliable support through the transition, and to implement the Mental Health and Wellbeing Passport.
- Two UWT sessions in the last month of the degree or PhD
- Up to five UWT sessions between university ending and employment beginning
- A space to talk through the future, uncertainty and worry
- Encouragement to apply for roles where the graduate will thrive
- The Mental Health, Neurodiversity, Disability and Wellbeing Passport completed and reviewed together
How the UWT works
Seven sessions at the point where support usually stops.
01
Final month of study
Two UWT mentoring sessions in the last month of the degree or PhD, while the student still has the structure of university around them.
02
Talk through the change
Sessions give space for thoughts about the future, uncertainty and worry, ending university, reflection and moving forward.
03
Build the Passport
The mentor and graduate complete, implement and review the Mental Health, Neurodiversity, Disability and Wellbeing Passport.
04
Into employment
Up to five sessions between university ending and work beginning, with encouragement to apply for roles where the graduate will thrive.
The gap
Support ends exactly when the change is hardest
A student with mentoring through university loses it at graduation, at exactly the point of applying for work, disclosing a condition to a new employer and starting somewhere with no support in place.
The UWT exists to keep the same mentor, and the same strategies, across that gap. What the graduate has learned travels with them instead of being rebuilt from nothing in a new setting.
What the UWT provides
Four things the programme is built to do.
Focussed sessions
Two UWT mentoring sessions in the last month of the degree or PhD, and up to five between university ending and employment beginning.
Proactive
A space to talk through thoughts surrounding the future, uncertainty and worry, ending university, reflection and moving forward.
Supportive
The specialist mentor supports the graduate with confidence and encourages them to apply for roles where they will thrive.
Collaborative
Mentor and graduate complete, implement and review the Mental Health, Neurodiversity, Disability and Wellbeing Passport together.
The Passport
What is the OneSpace Passport?
Powered by AI, the OneSpace Passport gives students ownership of their own support strategies, improves safeguarding and provides a central location to store crucial documents.
The 2025 UWT launch event
The launch event for the 2025 programme, with the report published alongside it.
Watch the 2025 UWT launch event on YouTube (opens in a new tab)
Reports and further reading
The evidence behind the programme, and the wider case for supporting the transition into work.
UWT Report 2025 (PDF)The current report on the University to Workplace Transition programme. UMO White PaperThe wider case for supporting students through the move into employment. OneSpace PassportThe platform behind the Mental Health, Neurodiversity, Disability and Wellbeing Passport.(opens in a new tab)
Who backs the UWT
Supported by specialist higher education and workplace organisations.
University of Manchester(opens in a new tab) Queen Mary, University of London(opens in a new tab) Imperial College London(opens in a new tab) King’s College London(opens in a new tab) London Metropolitan University(opens in a new tab) TASO(opens in a new tab) Student Minds(opens in a new tab) UMHAN(opens in a new tab) Thrive LDN(opens in a new tab) Good Thinking(opens in a new tab)
Questions about the UWT
Answers for universities, employers and the graduates taking part.
The programme
How many sessions are there?
Two UWT mentoring sessions in the last month of the degree or PhD, and up to five between university ending and employment beginning.
Who delivers the sessions?
A specialist mentor, continuing the foundation of support built during university mentoring.
What is the Passport?
The Mental Health, Neurodiversity, Disability and Wellbeing Passport, completed, implemented and reviewed with the mentor and held in the OneSpace Passport platform.
What do sessions cover?
Thoughts about the future, uncertainty and worry, ending university, reflection and moving forward, alongside confidence and applying for roles where the graduate will thrive.
Taking part
How does an institution get involved?
Contact UMO to discuss how the UWT would work alongside your existing mentoring provision.
Can employers take part?
Yes. Employers benefit from a smoother transition into the workforce, and can contact UMO to discuss involvement.
Who backs the programme?
Specialist higher education and workplace organisations, listed above, including universities, TASO, Student Minds, UMHAN, Thrive LDN and Good Thinking.
Where can I read the evidence?
The UWT Report 2025 and UMO’s White Paper are linked above.
Get your institution involved
If your company or institution wants to be part of the UWT, contact UMO to discuss how it would work alongside your existing provision.