Student life

How to support students beyond the classroom. Here you'll find resources to direct student services, foster well-being and build inclusive campus communities 

Group of schoolchildren

Bridging the gap between academia and local communities

Institutions that integrate public engagement into their core mission will contribute to stronger, more connected communities. Here are lessons from running an on-campus science bazaar

Ellie-May Beaman

Oxford Brookes University

Male mature-age college student

What makes a university extension programme stand out?

A holistic approach to extension courses that includes easy access to information, personalised support, workforce development assistance and end-to-end engagement will help institutions shine in a crowded market

Jaimie Rush

University of La Verne

A lecturer explains a concept to students using a whiteboard

Connect with your students inside and outside the classroom

Empathy is essential for creating a supportive learning environment. Here’s how to cultivate compassion in your teaching and address common challenges faced by students

Philip Y Lam

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Viral Instagram post

The power of positivity: how a simple question went viral

The viral success of a social media post offers insights on how universities can use simple, authentic and emotionally resonant content to drive engagement and strengthen community

Andrew Lam, Riley Phillips

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Care concept

Building a culture of care to support students’ mental health

Mental health support is a community-wide concern, which includes easy-to-access counselling, staff awareness and training, an empathetic environment and community hubs, writes Amy Epperley

Amy Epperley

Virginia Tech

Vibe Lounge event at Turner Sims at the University of Southampton

How civic arts programmes can make students feel welcome

Empowering students to co-create music events with peers can foster a sense of belonging in their university and city. Here’s how a student-community collective breathed new life into a 50-year-old venue

Jessica Santer, Carley Divish

University of Southampton

Young Asian woman in a job interview

Providing the right resources for students who work alongside study

Student services and scholarships are among the support systems that can help students manage a job in tandem with their university education

Cheong Fan

Macau University of Science and Technology

Professor talking to male Asian student

How to know when students need mental health assistance

Academic institutions have a rare opportunity to intervene to help students with mental health challenges, but this requires support and training for staff and faculty, writes Amy Epperley

Amy Epperley

Virginia Tech

A group of students sat in a circle having a discussion

Starting a support group for students with disabilities

Supporting students with disabilities in regions where universities place less emphasis on equity, diversity and inclusion requires a proactive approach from staff. Establishing a student-led support group can make a significant impact

Asri Saraswati

The University of Indonesia

A adult works at a laptop, while a small child plays with dinosaur toys on the keyboard

The small steps that can make a big difference to student parents

Juggling academic and parental commitments is no easy feat. Here’s how universities can make small, programme-level adjustments to relieve the pressure on student parents

Rebecca Gordon

University of the West of Scotland

A student using their phone

How universities can use research to develop effective digital products

Tips on developing a user-led digital approach at your institution, based on the University of Exeter’s success

Helen Cocks, Amelia Johnson

The University of Exeter

A tutor helping her postgraduate students

How can we better support our postgraduate students?

The challenges postgraduate taught students face are different from those of their undergraduate counterparts. Here are some ways to help them overcome them

Ellen Bell, Kelly Edmunds

The University of East Anglia

Multiracial group of students

‘The experience of mixing with peers from other schools and engaging with university life is transformational’

By building a bridge between high school and university, outreach teams can foster aspiration and provide tangible pathways for students who might not otherwise pursue higher education

Gillian Lavercombe

University of the West of Scotland

Westminster Regent Street welcome sign

Unlock the benefits of multilingualism in higher education

To create inclusive campuses, we need to embrace multilingualism. Here’s how the Multilingual University project helped celebrate linguistic diversity and fostered a sense of belonging

Katherine Mansfield, Julio Gimenez

The University of Westminster

Migrant student use laptops

How higher education can lead the way in refugee resettlement

Higher education has an important role to play in the global refugee crisis. Here’s how a national initiative resettled refugees and helped them continue their education in their new home

Lauren M. London

Eastern Michigan University

Adult colouring in

Colouring in: a big-impact, low-budget support for student well-being

The simple activity of colouring in could be an easy, budget-friendly way for university educators and professionals to help students reduce stress and improve well-being

Emma Palmer-Cooper

University of Southampton

Student athlete with a gold medal

Using sports storytelling to raise an institution’s profile

How the University of Stirling leverages student athletes’ stories to create impactful content and drive engagement

Greg Christison

University of Stirling

Students standing and chatting outside of a campus building

How unlocking data maximises student support and success

See how using sophisticated dashboards and targeted interventions can enable institutions to deliver personalised, preventative, proactive and predictive student support

Aleata Alstad-Calkins

University of Roehampton

A student withdrawing money from an ATM

Make money management matter: five rules for cost-of-living communications

A finalist for THE’s Outstanding Marketing/Communications Team of the Year award shares strategies for leveraging data and insights to help students better manage their finances

Lauren Phillips

University of Leeds

Young male with backpack looking up at a plane overhead

Measuring the environmental impact of student relocation

A simple but robust tool and methodology can help universities calculate the carbon emissions from student travel when they relocate for study

Roederer Rose Lyne, Fraser Lovie

University of Aberdeen

Frustrated student trying to understand her notes

How can we help students manage frustration and build resilience?

Help students not to become discouraged by poor exam results by instilling a growth mindset, helping them plan their time and encouraging self-reflection

Agustina Ortelli

Universidad Austral

podcast graphic

THE podcast: how can universities ensure students are safe and supported?

A discussion of universities’ duty of care towards students, from tackling sexual misconduct to ensuring they feel supported in their studies

Rachel Fenton, Catherine Moran

The University of Exeter, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury

Students hold up signs in the shape of speech bubbles

What do students want from higher education?

Student satisfaction runs much deeper than excellent academic credentials. Find out how to attract new intake by focusing on what they really want from the university experience

Pete Moss

Ellucian

Parents with two sons posing for a photo

A guide to supporting student parents at university: part three

In the final piece in her series, Andy Todd explores ways personal tutors can help their tutees transition into university smoothly

Andy Todd

University of Chester

Mother getting her son ready for school

A guide to supporting student parents at university: part two

The second in a three-part series provides detailed, practical guidance on how student parents can be supported to succeed at UK universities

Andy Todd

University of Chester

Father and son at an airport

A guide to supporting student parents at university: part one

The first in a three-part series provides an overview on how student parents can be supported to succeed at UK universities

Andy Todd

University of Chester

Students in a kitchen having breakfast together

Build healthy resident student communities with restorative practice

The integration of restorative practices within student residential communities can have a transformational impact

Gemma Edgar

The University of Newcastle, Australia

Student unpacking his car with his parents on campus

Building a parent-friendly campus: practical considerations

Including parents in the academic experience can help build a stronger campus community and set students on a path towards success

Poornima Panduranga Kundapur

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

A student hugs her knees while talking

How to help a student in mental health distress

Students are particularly vulnerable to mental health struggles, and exam time can be especially stressful. Here’s how to help in an emergency and how to offer long-term support

Norlin Nosbi, Nurul Azhani Yunus, Mazian Mohammad, Abdul Rahim Othman

Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)

A student raises a hand in a classroom

Educate to empower your students and prevent harassment

To make campus safer, why not teach first-year students the principles of harassment prevention? Here’s how

Dinara Pisareva, Nikita Durnev

Nazarbayev University

A young student wearing a mask studies in the library

Three ways to support the post-pandemic mental health of Generation Z

Post-pandemic, students are still struggling with their mental health. Here are three ways to help

Sumbal Riaz, Aena Khan

Dubai Medical College for Girls

Latin American father working from home with toddler

Childcare for students and academics needs resources and relationships

Handling a challenging academic workload along with parenting responsibilities is complicated. Support, connection to resources and access to reliable childcare are all needed for parenting students and professionals to succeed

Kim Thomason

Virginia Tech

Young Asian female graduate with baby and partner

Balancing books and babies: empowering graduate-student parents

Juggling academics with family responsibilities is complicated. Barbara Hoopes shares advice on supporting and empowering graduate students who are parents

Barbara Hoopes

Virginia Tech

Teacher sitting at his desk in an empty classroom waiting for his students

First-day-of-term tips: a checklist

Here are some steps to take to ensure the first few weeks of term go smoothly for yourself and your students

Kalpana Gupta

The University of Colorado Boulder

A new student outside campus with her mother

Developing an effective orientation programme for families and friends

Bring families and friends into the onboarding process to ease first-year students into university life

Kareina Cadel

Dalhousie University

Student in counselling session

Science-backed mental health techniques for students’ well-being

University students have long struggled with academic pressure, social media demands, economic challenges and career uncertainty. This technique uses language and body awareness to help students cope and reset

Erica Coates

Virginia Tech

Colleges of Advanced Studies at Semmelweis University

How student learning communities support professional development

An effective way to nurture talent is to enable not only individual but also community learning. Here’s how the Hungarian system of colleges for advanced studies helps to train medical professionals who are also well versed in social issues

Ferenc Godó

Semmelweis University

Group of young people in a gym

Making sport accessible to everyone on campus

Fitness and sport programmes are not only for elite athletes. Here, Phil Malatesta offers advice for how to maximise students’ opportunities for movement and physical activity

Phil Malatesta

University of Southampton

Architecture internship

Balancing career readiness and finances: the case for abbreviated internships

Internships give students professional experience, guide career choices and boost job market competitiveness. But what if students need higher-paying summer jobs or can’t afford three months in a far-flung city? That’s where abbreviated winter internships come in

Margarita McGrath

Virginia Tech

Students holding flags

Mind your language: inclusive teaching for international students

Learning about your international students and being mindful about how you use language in classes can have a profound impact on students’ experience and attainment

Mark Whalley

University of Chester

Student with her head in her hands

Recognising and dealing with bullying on college campuses

It’s not realistic to expect all contempt to instantly vanish when you respond, but it will certainly persist if you don’t respond, writes Elizabeth K. Englander

Elizabeth K. Englander

Bridgewater State University

Young Black woman lying on bed looking at phone

Transforming mental health in South African universities: the promise of AI chatbots

Artificial intelligence can offer promise for student mental health services in Africa. AI-driven chatbots can provide a nonjudgemental, readily available, cost-effective avenue for individuals to access information, support and guidance, writes Matete Madiba

Matete Madiba

University of the Western Cape

line of students showing LGBTQ+ allyship

What you can do today for a meaningful Pride Month

Fear of being tokenistic, or feeling they don’t know enough to start, can stop many people from engaging with queer inclusion. Here, Brooke Szücs offers first steps towards allyship

Brooke Szücs

The University of Queensland

A bird's eye view shot of a woman sat on a lawn, using several devices

Campus life is entering a new era, but don’t forget the human touch

With the acceleration of technology, the university experience is changing. As academics, it’s up to us to guide our students through this new normal of learning, navigating information and socialising, writes Nazlihasri Abdul Rahman

Nazlihasri Abdul Rahman

Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)

Student sitting on a sofa with her laptop with a thumbs up

Non-verbal cues: learn how to use them effectively in teacher-student communication

If the end goal is to get students interested in the learning process, these non-verbal cues used in teacher-student communication can enable you to build trust and enhance your impact as a teacher and a communicator, writes Shruthi V. Shetty

Shruthi V Shetty

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Students playing board games

Partner with your students to build belonging on campus

By actively fostering belonging through the strategies outlined in this resource, universities can cultivate a more holistic and supportive environment where all students can thrive, both academically and personally

Tom Ritchie, Adam Alcock

The University of Warwick

A woman sits at a laptop with a small toddler on the desk next to her

From prams to postgraduate degrees: how universities can support student parents

Educators play a crucial role in getting student parents the support they need. Mia Burleigh, drawing on her own experience, offers seven tips

Mia Burleigh

University of the West of Scotland

International students holding up flags of their home countries

Eleven ways to support international students who use English as a second language

We must all work to foster a compassionate and encouraging experience for our international student community

Peter O'Rourke

The University of Exeter

Student standing outside a campus building

How to build inclusive mentorship programmes for Black students

To create inclusive mentorship programmes for Black university students, we must ensure they are culturally relevant, address unique challenges and foster peer support

Patrice Seuwou

University of Northampton

A group of students chatting in a study area

Using the Snowflake Method to build belonging on campus

To build a sense of belonging, institutions must create a tailored programme to match the needs of their unique demographic and local environment

Sarah Bishop

Teesside University