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

The shift from secondary school or college to university represents a period of change characterized 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 expectations of university life. For some, 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 and third-year), seeking to explore the academic factors that shape students’ experiences across their degree. Using thematic analysis, the study conceptualized five main themes: prior experience, adjustment to university, staff relationships, the experience of studying, and future career plans. Together these show how students’ expectations change across their undergraduate studies. We suggest that good expectation management for students first starting university 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.