In this eighth annual Student Wellbeing Survey from Studiosity, university students are given the opportunity to express their joys, concerns, and recommendations to their university leaders.
Who took the survey? YouGov was commissioned by Studiosity to conduct the eighth wave of this global research, with panels in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
To sum up: Higher education leaders must focus on addressing, student stress, belonging, peer connections, and academic integrity at scale, while ensuring accessibility and enhancing mental health support. They should also tailor their approaches to local needs, investing in mental health resources, fostering student connections, and accelerating AI integration to meet varying student expectations across different countries.
Executive summary of the report for leadership, from Professor Judyth Sachs:
"Funding, competition, academic integrity, artificial intelligence, and institutional risk are top of mind for HE leadership the world over. Students can see where institutions have made a commitment – for instance, we can see around two thirds happy with sense of belonging.
Let us remember the other third, whether this is the 70 million students the world over, or the additional 6000 undergraduates enrolled just with your institution. Students are telling us where there is room for improvement – accessibility, personalisation, and connection.
"Whether addressing belonging, establishing more accessible mental health support and peer connection, or accelerating AI for learning - the answer can be summed up as continual investment in quality teaching and learning. This year’s report makes necessary actions clear."
- Professor Judyth Sachs, Chief Academic Officer, Studiosity
Let's explore first two timely areas in the report, generative AI and sense of belonging.
Demand 1: Overall, students expect approved, AI-based supports to be provided by their university.
Australia: Students anticipate increased use of AI tools, particularly for feedback and learning enhancement.
Canada: 54% of students expect AI support, but many feel that institutions are slow to adapt.
New Zealand: Enthusiasm for AI tools is high, with students seeking faster and more effective academic support.
Saudi Arabia: 79% expect AI support, focusing on confidence and feedback speed, with concerns about the pace of adoption.
Singapore: 75% of students anticipate using AI tools, especially for improving feedback and academic performance. Institutions are seen as making progress but could accelerate AI integration.
UK: There is growing demand for AI tools for faster feedback and improved assignment support.
UAE: 84% expect AI tools, valuing them for boosting confidence and learning how to use AI effectively.
USA: STEM students use AI for quick feedback, though there are concerns about universities keeping pace with AI developments.
For most students, speed and confidence were the biggest reasons for wanting AI-powered study support, pointing to an opportunity for institutional leaders. (Studiosity Global Student Wellbeing Report, 2024)
Demand 2: University students in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK seek amplified peer support, while Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the UAE report high connection levels and expectations.
Australia: Students generally feel connected but express a need for more structured peer support and mentorship.
Canada: Two-thirds of students feel a sense of belonging, driven by flexible schedules and mental health support, though there is a gap in student mentoring.
New Zealand: A strong sense of community, with students would value even more peer interactions and mentorship opportunities.
Saudi Arabia: High levels of belonging are reported, high confidence in reaching out to teachers and normalised use of using online study options.
Singapore: Students generally feel a strong sense of belonging, facilitated by effective mentorship programs and a supportive academic environment.
UK: Many students lack senior mentors and perceive less need for them, suggesting that strengthening peer connections could benefit early-year students.
UAE: 61% find it easy to connect with peers, though domestic students face more challenges compared to international students.
USA: 74% feel they belong, largely due to flexible schedules and support systems, despite ongoing challenges with time management and coursework stress.
While connection to other students looks good for many, 50% of students were neutral or negative about the ease of asking a peer a question. (Studiosity Global Student Wellbeing Report, 2024)
The majority of students indicate a strong sense of belonging with their university (68%). However, Australia and the UK have a significantly lower proportion of students indicating net likely to feel like they belong (60% and 61% respectively); mostly coming from students aged 26+ and female students.(Studiosity Global Student Wellbeing Report, 2024)
The take out: Students see their institutions making progress, but want to see faster AI integration and want to see peer support amplified as part of the standard student experience.
