The data of an empirical study obtained on the basis of a survey of 120 students of Balashov Institute of Saratov State University enrolled in the areas of training of bachelors which are in the enlarged group of areas and specialities ‘Education and Pedagogical Sciences’ are presented. In the course of an empirical study, an author's questionnaire was applied aimed at identifying students' awareness of mentoring as one of the types of mentoring activities in the pedagogical field. The following has been found. Students are aware of the role of mentoring in the pedagogical process to varying degrees. The vast majority of students would like to expand the experience of mentoring interaction. Students consider responsibility, pedagogical competence, free communication skills, pedagogical tact, the perception of the equivalence of students, organizational skills, flexibility of thinking and self-acceptance as the most important characteristics of ‘mentoring’. It is concluded that students’ ideas of mentoring are divided into four types: ‘realistic-positive’, ‘ignorant-optimistic’, ‘ignorant-cautious’, ‘realistic-indifferent’. The data obtained indicate an insufficiently complete understanding of students about the role of mentoring in the pedagogical process. The necessity of developing and introducing into the educational process of universities a practice-oriented programme that reveals the essence of mentoring in the format of additional education courses is emphasized.