Higher education institutions are facing challenges with regard to improving the success and pass rate of students. Mentorship in the life skills programmes should contribute significantly in addressing these issues. A study was undertaken to determine students' perceptions of the life skills programme at the Tshwane University of Technology. The sample for the survey included 146 students from departments that were available at the time of data collection. A factor analysis was employed to determine the most important issues regarding the life skills programme and its mentorship. A number of findings led to recommendations for the improvement of the success rate of students and the life skills programme. The implication of this study for higher education in general involves the adding of value to students through the mentoring in the life skills programmes offered by higher education institutions. (Contains 6 tables and 1 figure.)