Expectations and Reflections About Starting University—A Qualitative Focus Group Study with First- and Third-Year Psychology Students

Abstract

The shift from secondary school or college to university represents a period of change characterised by multiple transitions, educationally, socially, and emotionally. As students move from strictly regulated school environments to the relative independence of university study, they arrive at their expectations of university life. For some, their expectations of university will not change across the course of their degree, while for others, partial or total expectation shifts may occur. The current study conducted nine focus group sessions in 2018 with a total of 46 undergraduate psychology students (32 first-year and 14 third-year students), seeking to explore the academic factors that shape students’ experiences across their degree. Using thematic analysis, the study conceptualised five main themes: prior experience, adjustment to university, staff relationships, the experience of studying, and future career plans. By exploring the entry year and the final study year, we have shown how students’ expectations change across their undergraduate studies. We suggest that managing first-year students’ expectations would help in their initial transition. Ongoing support such as between-module check-ins and continued employability support across the span of each student’s degree would be beneficial for their overall experience. Additionally, the findings also highlight the key role played by staff in developing a feeling of belonging.