Student life

Universities are facing new challenges to provide adequate pastoral care as rates of mental health conditions among university students soar. Research from YouGov states that one in four university students in the UK are experiencing mental health problems, spurring universities to adapt their support services to ensure that individual students’ needs are met.

This year, the annual results are based on the responses of 20,251 undergraduates, who were asked to describe how their university contributed to a positive or negative experience on a seven-point scale, from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree”. Questions have remained unchanged since 2005 to allow comparisons across years.

Data are collected from October to June from full-time, UK-based undergraduates. There is a one-year time lag between collection and publication. 

Get the full results of the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey 2018

This year's Student Experience Survey finds Harper Adams University slips down to second place. 

The news that Harper Adams University) in 2017.

“I am absolutely delighted,” says Allison. “But I am delighted principally for the staff and the students here, because I know it will mean so much to them.”

I began my career in the private sector, having first obtained a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Copperbelt University in Zambia in 1995.

After graduation, my passion for children’s rights led me to work for an international development organisation, providing public services to rural communities in Zambia. The role involved advocating government to develop and implement public policies for children.

However, I wanted a more influential and direct role closer to where public policies were developed. 

London is the most popular destination for students, followed by Sydney, Melbourne and Manchester in second, third and fourth place respectively, according to research by Student.com.

Student.com, an online marketplace for student accommodation, compiled the list by looking at the number of accommodation enquiries between 1 January and 31 December 2017. 

Almost two thirds of UK students and graduates have experienced sexual violence while at university, according to new research by Revolt Sexual Assault in partnership with The Student Room.

The partnership launched the first national consultation for students and graduates on this issue in a decade to demonstrate the scale of the problem. 

In the wake of the documented rise in student mental health rates, and on University Mental Health Day, I wanted to discuss my own experience of depression as a student, as well as share my thoughts about what universities should be doing to tackle this potentially devastating illness.

Having been in the US since August, I’ve become more than aware of the cultural differences between myself and my classmates. I had been aware of the disparities between home and the States prior to my arrival in New York but now, in my second semester, I can attest to the benefits of my experience of both cultures.

The strike action of academic staff over changes to their pension has dominated conversation among the student body here at UCL over the last few weeks. Some  whispered excitedly at the prospect of classes being cancelled. Others looked apprehensive about the issues facing their professors and vowed to join the student demonstrations.