A mentorship scheme run by the Information Security Group (ISG) at Royal Holloway, University of London, is helping students prepare for careers in information and cyber security by connecting them with experienced industry professionals, including many ISG alumni.
Starting a career can bring many questions. Which career path should I follow? What do employers expect? How can I prepare for interviews? The ISG Mentorship Scheme gives students the opportunity to discuss these questions and beyond with experienced information and cyber security professionals.
The scheme connects MSc Information and Cyber Security, including Year-in-Industry, students with volunteer mentors who share their knowledge, offer career advice and help students navigate their information and cyber security journey.
Supporting Students through Mentoring
Students are matched with mentors based on their interests, career goals and areas of professional experience. They can discuss career options, workplace expectations, interview preparation, communication skills and other topics relevant to their professional development.
The scheme gives students a chance to learn from professionals who understand the challenges of entering the industry. It also gives mentors an opportunity to share their experience and support the next generation of information and cyber security professionals.
Celebrating the achievements of 2025 to 2026
During the 2025 to 2026 academic year, 36 students from MSc Information Security, MSc Information Security Year in Industry (YinI), and MSc Applied Data Science and Cyber Security were matched with suitable industry mentors.
Of these mentors, 24 were ISG alumni who were working in a range of different industries. Their involvement highlights the important role alumni play in supporting current students and maintaining strong links between Royal Holloway and the UK information and cyber security industry.
Feedback from mentors was very positive, with all 14 rating their experience as excellent and expressing an interest in mentoring again. Almost all other mentors have also continued their involvement.
Mentors particularly valued seeing their students grow in confidence and make progress towards their career goals. The scheme also gave alumni a meaningful way to stay connected with Royal Holloway and share the experience they had gained since graduating.
The feedback also included useful suggestions for improving the scheme, showing a shared commitment to making the mentoring experience valuable for both students and mentors.
Could you become a mentor?
The scheme continues to support students in the 2026 - 2027 academic year. A total of 42 students from MSc Information and Cyber Security and MSc Information and Cyber Security Year-in-Industry have now been matched with industry mentors.
Of these mentors, 31 are ISG alumni – but we are happy to welcome more alumni and friends of the ISG to become mentors. By sharing your time, knowledge and experience, mentors help students prepare for their future careers and build connections with the cybersecurity industry.
Prof. Keith Martin, as co-ISG Section Head, said: "The ISG thanks all the mentors who have contributed to the scheme so far. Their involvement helps create valuable links between education and professional practice and encourages graduates to give back to the university community.”
Alumni and industry professionals interested in becoming mentors should contact Dr Waleed Bin Shahid at waleed.shahid@rhul.ac.uk.
