Our Research Project:
Belonging and Early Withdrawal: Mental Health and Wellbeing among First-Year Commuter Students
We are delighted to announce our first research project, in partnership with Royal Holloway University London and Royal Holloway Students' Union.
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​With a growing number of commuter students making up almost half of students attending university , there is a vital need to learn more about how to offer support to our extended campus community.
Focused around the importance of our sense of belonging amongst first-year undergraduate students , we are beginning a series of interviews, to listen and learn, with the aim of taking focused action around our findings.
The Critical Challenge: Why This Research Matters
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Nearly half of UK university students now commute rather than live on campus, yet support systems are largely designed for residential students.
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Student mental health and wellbeing have declined significantly, making the first term a critical period for support.
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Commuter students face unique challenges—including long travel times, financial pressures, and limited opportunities to integrate into campus life—all of which influence early withdrawal risk.
​This project will explore how first-year commuter students experience belonging, social support, and mental health challenges during this critical first term.​​
Our Deliverables
The findings will provide universities with actionable insights to strengthen retention and wellbeing support.
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A detailed qualitative research report capturing the voices and lived experiences of first-year commuter students.
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Actionable, evidence-informed recommendations for universities.
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Main themes and findings will be shared publicly at the Campus to Campus Summit.