Student Wellbeing and Course Experience (SWCE) Survey 2017

About

This study examined course-related factors associated with student mental health and wellbeing in both undergraduate and professional graduate programs. It aimed to advance understanding among university staff of the mental health needs of students and to inform the design of strategies to better support student wellbeing.

Key research questions:

  1. What course-related factors support or undermine student mental wellbeing in diverse educational programs?
  2. How can student mental wellbeing be enhanced and better supported by university staff and curriculum designers?

Aim

A diverse range of teaching programs participated in the 2017 study, which was based on a pilot project administered in the Melbourne Law School in 2016. The findings from the study enabled the researchers to analyse student wellbeing through the lens of varied learning and teaching environments at both undergraduate and graduate levels, providing a unique insight into:

  1. the discipline and program-specific factors and issues associated with student wellbeing, and
  2. wellbeing-supportive strategies that might be effective across disciplines and programs.

The insights into student wellbeing and course experience gained through this project can benefit current and future students at The University of Melbourne. In particular, the project aimed to assist educators to design curriculum and teaching practices that are informed by current and relevant information about student mental wellbeing. The findings of this study were also shared with researchers from other universities, with the aim of improving university student wellbeing generally.

Participating faculties and schools

  • Faculty of Arts
  • Faculty of Business and Economics
  • Faculty of Science
  • Faculty of the Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music
  • School of Biomedical Sciences
  • Melbourne School of Engineering
  • Melbourne Graduate School of Education
  • Melbourne Veterinary School

Researchers

  • Associate Professor Wendy Larcombe, Melbourne Law School
  • Associate Professor Chi Baik, Melbourne CSHE

Funding

This project is supported by Chancellery and the Deans/Associate Deans of each participating faculty and school

See the Plain Language Statement

This project has received ethics approval from the University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC: 1239160.2; Date: 01/08/2016). Should you have any concerns about the conduct of the study please contact the Executive Officer, Human Research Ethics of The University of Melbourne, phone: +61 3 8344 2073.

More information

Associate Professor Chi Baik, Melbourne CSHE, The University of Melbourne