This paper considers the topic of student wellbeing using the lens of a different type of support mechanism -- 'dog borrowing' -- which builds on prior research about emotion work and human-animal interactions but in the context of student transitions and pastoral care in higher education. This novel study was about the experiences of students…

In common with many countries, UK schools closed for most pupils for periods between March 2020 and March 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, with significant implications for school education and the primary to secondary school transition. The transition to secondary school occurs at a crucial time of child development, with evidence…

The transition into higher education stretches students socially, academically and within their personal lives requiring adaptation and development of resilience. For many, such demands may lead to decreased mental wellbeing and, for some, mental ill-health. This project aimed to trial simple mental health awareness and well-being tasks with first…

Since the 1970s, international students have represented a growing proportion of the global student body, yet how they adjust and how universities can support them is relatively unexplored. We conducted a qualitative study of 36 international students of 11 nationalities studying in Norway and the UK and found that their experience did not fit the…

Background: Developmental language disorder (DLD) has clear functional ramifications in the areas of social competency, emotion recognition, emotional well-being and literacy skill, which have been found to persist from childhood to adolescence. These domains are important factors during the transition from primary to secondary school in typical…

This study explored the secondary school transition experiences of children with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P). Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Participants were recruited from a National Health Service (NHS) specialist cleft service covering a large…

The purpose of this review study was to conduct a thematic exploration of prior studies related to the transition between primary and secondary school. The aim of the paper was to discover (1) the extent of earlier research, (2) how earlier research thematises social and emotional issues, and (3) suggestions of those studies concerning how to…

Recent studies indicate that the academic and social integration of overseas students in the destination country often plays a major role in their academic performance, employability outcomes and integration into the wider community. This study investigates these issues in more depth from the perspective of overseas Chinese in the Southwest UK,…

Taught postgraduate students in the UK have a limited timeframe for study, with most full-time courses requiring intense scholarship, typically over a 12-month period. Many of these students face challenges and concerns with the transition from undergraduate to taught postgraduate study as they adapt to a new learning environment with higher…

In this HEPI Occasional Paper, Sir Anthony Seldon and Dr Alan Martin explore the concept of a 'positive university' by looking at the approaches used by positive psychology and mindfulness. With increasing concern about the health of students and staff, this report considers the importance of a proactive approach to mental wellbeing. Exploring…

Few longitudinal studies have examined the changes over time in international students' wellbeing. This study aimed to explore any change in wellbeing from the beginning of the first semester until the end of the academic year and the impact of using 'wellbeing away' strategies on international students' wellbeing. The survey used the Smith…

Transitioning from primary school to secondary school is an important and defining stage for many pupils which can bring both positive and negative effects on pupil's wellbeing. It is a time that involves rapid physical, social and emotional development which can bring about feelings of loneliness, pressure of social acceptance, stress and a rise…

Starting school has been shown to correlate with later school outcomes. Teachers working in early years' settings either in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or the United Kingdom completed a questionnaire asking them to rate the importance of 20 statements in answer to the question 'How important are the following for deciding whether a child with…

The lack of exchange between international students and host nationals in Japan has long been a pressing issue, yet very little progress has been made to rectify this situation. In this study, we examined this issue by focusing on how international students in Japan perceive cultural contact with their host and home culture members during their…

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of being away from home on the well-being of international and domestic UK university students as a function of demographic factors, course load, support, personality, healthy lifestyle, and their employment of pre-planning and being at university strategies. A total of 510 students (n = 391…