This is our broadest theme, and pertains to how university life affects students’ health. For example, this could be anything from the quality and accessibility of sports facilities and clubs to the campus culture around health, to the general health outcomes of students.

Physical and Mental Health

Many students we interviewed when designing our survey felt that their relationship with the academic demands of their course was a key factor in their wellbeing at university. This theme covers both the university system itself, for example, whether the academic pressure at the university is manageable, and whether students are given adequate means to cope, along with other forms of pressure, such as the general culture around work from both staff and peers.

Workload and Academic Pressure

Accessibility to relevant information about various aspects of the university - grading system, study material, external fellowships, different clubs and societies, mental health support and class diversity can have an impact on students’ decision making and therefore wellbeing. This theme enables us to understand how easy (or hard) it is to access information about these and other aspects, and what the channels for information within the university are.

Access to Information

This theme pertains to how freely students are able to practice and share their faith with others at university. It includes how welcoming vs discriminatory the university experience is towards people’s religious beliefs, or lack thereof, both institutionally and culturally, as well as the existence and quality of religious provision students have access to, such as prayer spaces or religious societies.

Religion / Faith

Overall Wellbeing

This theme is meant to help students express the extent to which they perceive their campus as a place conducive to happiness and peace, which are important aspects of wellbeing. The focus here can range from matters related to the institution and infrastructure to class schedules, workload, holidays, college events, campus canteen/cafe and campus culture.

Happiness / Peace

This theme focuses on identifying and evaluating sources of support available to students on or beyond the campus that can help with their overall wellbeing. This may include support received from peers, faculty members, college societies/clubs, school wellness provisions (such as academic or mental health support) and the wider university community.

Support Systems / Community

This theme is concerned with the availability and quality of professional support around wellbeing, such as doctors and counsellors. For example, if a counsellor is available on campus for students, if students are able to, and are encouraged to, access their support (free or paid), if such sessions have been helpful, and if further resources (medication etc) are available if required.

Access to Professional Help

We understand that all students are unique and each of us has unique ways to cope with challenges. However we also think that these coping mechanisms are often driven by the broader university culture and peer-to-peer interactions. The institution itself also has some part to play. This theme is about how students perceive the general awareness/attitudes around coping at their university as being healthy or unhealthy, and what resources exist to encourage (or discourage) healthy coping mechanisms.

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