First published: March 2023
Student Happiness Index 2021: insights into students’ happiness, optimism and motivation
Our annual Student Happiness Index measures how happy and optimistic undergraduate, postgraduate and part-time students feel as well as what’s motivating them for the future. The report is grouped into four findings:
Flourished – those students who scored their happiness and optimism for the future between 7-10.
Floundered – those students who rate their happiness and optimism for the future between 0-6.
Fortunate – those that scored 7-10 for happiness but 0-6 for optimism.
Faltered – students who scored 0-6 for happiness but 7-10 for optimism.
All in all, it’s been a challenging year for student happiness in the UK.
The importance of mental health to students is clear, with respondents expressing great concern for their mental wellbeing and an understanding of how this impacts their personal happiness.
Students were generally unhappy during the 2020/1 academic year as evidenced by an overall score of -16 on the Endsleigh Student Happiness Index. In particular, 40% of undergraduates said they were unhappy and 21% said they were pessimistic about life after university.
Here are the key findings from the 2021 report:
Happiness declines after the first year
This study uncovered the theme that happiness declines sharply after the first year of study, with students who struggled the most being full-time undergraduates in their second year of study or later.
These students had experiences of university life pre-pandemic, leaving some to struggle adjusting to the new normal of social restrictions and remote learning. They also find themselves approaching the end of their educational journey at a time where future job and economic prospects are uncertain, leading many to question the value of a degree to their long-term career ambitions.
Both happiness and optimism for the future was low for 70% of undergraduates whose top motivator for studying was financial security. To be financially secure was the second most popular reason given by undergraduates for opting for higher education.
Personal safety is a key concern
The findings also emphasise the importance of personal safety and mental health as factors in determining student happiness.
Worryingly, 70% of women expressed anxiety for their personal safety, with the murder of Sarah Everard a strong focal point for this concern.
Helping more students to Flourish
This study confirmed the stereotype of party loving, care-free students is out of date.
It found that their concerns, anxieties and motivations weigh heavily on their happiness and optimism for what the future brings. To help students Flourish it’s vital to ensure they feel protected and are supported with their mental, financial and social wellbeing.
While it is understandable that effort is focused on those entering higher education, these findings show that it is equally, if not more important, to support students as they progress through their educational journey.
Options to address these challenges include improvements to social support structures, particularly for those in private rented accommodation. Also, equipping students to visualise success in broader terms rather than simply focusing on the financial benefits of their university experience will aid both their happiness as students as well as better preparing them for life after university.
With almost 60 years’ experience in the education sector we understand the struggles that students face. In 2019 we launched our Student Assistance Programme in partnership with Health Assured and now offer 24/7 mental health and wellness support to over 1 million students through their universities, colleges and accommodation providers.
You can read the full Student Happiness Index 2021 report here.