Students’ experiences of well-being at the university: Meaning, key elements and emotions

Abstract

The study explored students' perceptions of what it means to be well at university, what aspects they contribute to and what emotions they experience at university. 128 students participated by completing the Open University Wellbeing Questionnaire. For the students, being well at university means feeling comfortable, influenced by space, teaching and learning orientation, relationships (with peers and teachers), family and psychological well-being. Negative emotions (overwhelm and stress) were more important than positive ones. The implications of these results are discussed on the basis of the recommendations suggested in their discourses.