How can we increase social connection across universities? Hear from the students who were a part of our student loneliness project
Earlier this year, we conducted a project working with SOAS, Royal Holloway, LSE, and University of Surrey to explore student loneliness and ways to create more connected universities.
As part of this project, we worked with eight incredible student Peer Researchers, two from each institution. We trained them in our ways of doing research, co-designed the research materials with them while together we carried out fieldwork and analysis. This allowed us to surface deep and rich insights from diverse students about their lived experiences of social connection and loneliness as students.
The peer researchers have added nuance and textured insights throughout the project and supported the delivery of our final workshop, with university staff. They brought energy, passion and unique reflections, inviting and challenging colleagues to tackle loneliness at their universities.
Below, we share some key reflections from the student peer researchers.
How would you like to see student loneliness addressed or changed?
Anna: I hope to see concrete actions from the Student Union, Wellbeing team, and academic departments. We can start with small steps and build gradually on them, implementing change that does not require a lot of time and financial resources, yet can bring direct benefit to students. The success of such small interventions would then inspire and promote bigger actions.
Abbie: I would love to see student loneliness become de-stigmatised. I hope universities continue to actively listen to student feedback and implement meaningful, student-led changes that prioritise belonging and inclusion.
Aneesa: I would like to see a focus on structural improvements that make connection a natural outcome of being a student. By designing social infrastructure like smaller cohorts and tailored events for at risk groups, we can ensure that belonging is accessible to everyone. Ultimately, a sense of community shouldn’t be something students have to go out of their way to find.
What did you learn from your experience on their student loneliness project?
Adam: I came into this project with a general sense of what student loneliness might look like, but the research process deepened my understanding considerably. I learned that loneliness often sits alongside a busy social calendar, affecting postgraduate students, commuters, international students and those from underrepresented backgrounds in distinct ways.
How was the experience for you personally?
Thomas: I really enjoyed being able to work on this project! Getting to experience the realities of research through applying it to a practical scenario has made me really interested in pursuing this further, seeing how much impact it can have.
Why do you think peer research is valuable?
Sara: Peer research is valuable as you get a first hand account of people’s experiences of loneliness and is not limited but in depth which allows us to learn more about how people feel.
Kenzie: I think peer research works well because students often feel more comfortable speaking to other students than to staff. Some of the people I spoke to were quite open about things they were struggling with, and I’m not sure they would have said the same things in a more formal setting.
These insights highlight the complexities of student loneliness as well as the need to incorporate students directly in developing solutions. We are really grateful to our Peer Researchers for their curiosity and commitment throughout the research. Their contributions have strengthened the research by adding depth from their own lived experience and demonstrated how peer-led approaches can encourage safer, more open discussions that provide richer insights. We hope that universities would expand on these ideas by actively listening to students and collaborating on ways to make connection and belonging a more natural aspect of university life.
Please contact marnie@neighbourlylab.com for more information.