U:PASS - Peer Learning That Works
Struggling with a tough subject? You’re not alone — and you don’t have to go it alone.
U:PASS (UTS Peer Assisted Study Success) is a free, peer-led learning program designed to support students in subjects that are historically challenging. Whether you're aiming to boost your grades, build confidence, or just stay on top of your coursework, U:PASS can help. We are part of HELPS, which provides English and academic support to all UTS students.
Why join a U:PASS session?
U:PASS is different from lectures and tutorials. It’s:
- Peer-led: Sessions are run by experienced students (U:PASS Leaders) who’ve successfully completed the subject. U:PASS leaders are flexible and responsive to students' abilities and needs.
- Collaborative: Learn with and from your peers in a relaxed, informal setting. U:PASS is your chance to ask questions without feeling embarrassed!
- Effective: Students often say one hour of U:PASS equals several hours of solo study.
Essentially, we try to promote a deeper understanding through active learning and engagement with the course material. We’re proud of the real difference U:PASS has made to student learning and development at UTS. Find out more about our expectations of you, background and philosophy.
What you'll gain
We’ve found students can benefit in a range of ways from the U:PASS program, including:
- Better grades
- A deeper understanding of subject content
- Study strategies tailored to your course and improved learning techniques
- Confidence to ask questions and engage
- Improved communication skills
- Access to practice questions, exam prep and other resources
- New friendships and a supportive learning community
Who can join?
U:PASS targets high-risk subjects, not students - so anyone enrolled in a supported subject is welcome. Whether you're struggling or striving for a distinction, U:PASS is for you.
Watch some U:PASS leaders and academics talk about U:PASS below.
For feedback, comments or questions, send us an email.

[MUSIC] >>>>MERLYN: It’s a group study session but
it’s led by a student who has done the subject and gone well in the subject before
>>STEVEN: U:PASS is facilitated learning, it’s not a tutorial, it’s not a lecture
>>RAZIA: Our aim in U:PASS is help you to become an independent learner rather than
feeding you the answers all the time >>DR LES KIRKUP: Students that have achieved
and are able to communicate and have a view of the subject and have been through it and
are on the same wavelength and appreciate the challenges. So this is quite a different
dynamic from an academic HOW CAN U:PASS HELP STUDENTS
>>MERLYN: The best thing it offers is a really comfortable environment to learn. It also
offers an opportunity to sort of interact with other students and peers in a way we
wouldn’t in a normal tutorial. >>ETHAN: Meeting friends, interacting with
people in your course, helping each other with problems or difficulties.
HOW IS U:PASS DIFFERENT FROM A LECTURE, LAB OR TUTORIAL?
>>DR JULIA PRIOR: Because the leader of that class is not involved in the student’s assessment
in anyway, I think it probably creates a different kind of environment for students to ask questions
and to grapple with things. >>STEVEN: It’s not passive learning, you’re
not sitting there with somebody dictating to you. You’re playing a big part in your
own learning experience. >>MERLYN: No one is there to sort of, I guess,
to be better than you, it’s not really a competitive atmosphere.
>>STEVEN: It’s so much fun and so informal that people don’t feel like they’re actually
studying, whereas in a tutorial it’s more structured
>>DR LES KIRKUP: It’s a very much complimentary thing. It’s not trying to replace what the
academics do, as academics are not trying to do what U:PASS does. Both have very positive
things to contribute WHO SHOULD ATTEND U:PASS SESSIONS?
>>STEVEN: It’s beneficial to any student, from one’s who are feeling like they may
not pass, to ones who are aiming to get 100% >>ETHAN: Anyone should attend that’s enrolled
>>MERLYN: Anyone, you don’t have to be struggling WHAT KIND OF STUDENT WORKS AS A U:PASS LEADER?
>>RAZIA: These are students who have great interpersonal and communication skills. They’re
also very involved and motivated, which helps them become a better leader. They’re also
very empathetic and have the ability to help people.
>>DR LES KIRKUP: The way people have been prepared for this. The rigour, the care and
attention to prepare people, is absolutely fantastic.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING A U:PASS SESSION? >>MERLYN: We start off revising the previous
week’s material >>ETHAN: It’s semi structured so you attend,
you can do activities, games, worksheets, anything course related.
>>STEVEN: Tables of 4-6 people in little islands around the room so you have your little session
group that you kind of collaborate with for the hour long session
>>ETHAN: U:PASS covers subjects through a range of faculties, primarily based in first
year, and if the student wants to find out more about that, the best way to go about
that is to go onto the university website and check out U:PASS on there. But if they
still want to know more, they can go into the student centres, or talk to academics
about it.