Wellbeing and a sense of belonging

WonkHE and Pearson have published the findings of a joint research project with students’ unions, into student belonging and inclusion at university.

The survey of over 5,000 students, carried out in November 2021, explored students’ experiences and perceptions of how they settled into university, whether they felt their course and university was inclusive, whether they engaged in extra-curricular activities, their academic confidence, and their connections with peers and tutors in the academic sphere.

The sample was self-selecting from fifteen students’ unions (13 in England, one in Scotland, and one in Wales), and the data has not been weighted. Key findings include:

• Two-thirds of respondents agree that they feel a sense of belonging at their university.
• Just under one in ten (nine per cent) say they do not feel they belong.
• Students who do not feel they belong at university are more likely to say they do not feel settled, that their course or university is not inclusive, and that they do not feel a sense of connectedness on their course. They are more likely to report low academic confidence or “imposter syndrome”, and are more likely to report feelings of loneliness.
• The survey found clear associations between the state of students’ mental health and their sense of belonging.

When asked what would help students feel a greater sense of belonging at their university, friendship and peer connection came out strongly across all demographics and modes:

• 46 per cent of all respondents said “developing closer or more friendships”.
• 42 per cent said “getting to know other people on my course better”.
• 37 per cent said “meeting like-minded people”.