Student experience Archives - Alterline

Free School Meals Undergraduate Experience: report now available

In this unique qualitative insight project, we explored the on-course experience of undergraduate students who had previously been eligible for free school meals and how universities could better support this group in their transition to university, to continue in their studies and to succeed. The full report is now available to purchase and you can also download a complimentary high-level summary.

Understanding the experiences of students from the LGBTQ+ community – report now available

What is the university experience of undergraduate students from the LGBTQ+ community and how can you engage and support them effectively? Our unique insight report is available to purchase or you can read the complimentary high level summary.

EDI in academic libraries: report available

A complimentary summary report and the full research report from our unique qualitative project on Black students' experience in academic libraries are now available.

The rising need for student mental health and wellbeing support

Student mental health and wellbeing have been high on the university agenda since it was recognised that there appeared to be higher levels of mental distress amongst students compared to their non-student peers.[1] Coupled with the intimate link between achieving academic success and strong mental health, the case for university and students’ unions’ teams to focus on developing their wellbeing…

Research-led strategy secures over £400,000 investment for Westminster Students’ Union

A new strategic plan at Westminster Students’ Union is leading to big improvements for students. The new strategy has been built upon intelligence generated by Alterline into the lives and needs of students’ and has already secured over £400,000 investment to improve the social spaces on offer at one of the Unions central London locations. Alterline's intelligence report highlighted a…

Students’ Unions and their role in student wellbeing

Rightly much attention is currently being paid to the issue of mental health on campuses with many new policies and initiatives, both nationally and locally. Students’ unions are keen to play their part and do all they can to contribute to members’ wellbeing and yet when it comes to practical actions many unions find themselves under resourced to meet the…

Being well, doing well re-launched for 25/26

We continue to build on the evidence gathered to date and work with both university and union teams to generate insight and solutions based on student voice.

“What does a tick mean?!” Exploring poor experiences of assessment and feedback through student experience research

Since the advent of the National Student Survey (NSS) assessment and feedback has received consistently lower ratings compared to other areas, however concerns in this area have been highlighted in institutional experience surveys going as far back as the late 1980s. The result is neither good for students nor good for institutions facing increased pressure from the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). …

New project announcement:

University of Glasgow

We are thrilled to announce a new project with the University of Glasgow. Working with the Student Services Team we are supporting them in developing an innovative model for delivering services, help and support in the new space. Keen to put students at the heart of the process, the Student Services team has commissioned Alterline to run a series of focus groups with students to explore their current experiences of campus services and future aspirations for the Learning and Teaching Hub.

The Power of Ethnography: Driving improvements in university libraries

Ethnography literally means ‘a portrait of a people’. An ethnography is a written description of a particular culture – the customs, beliefs, and behaviour – based on information collected through fieldwork.Marvin Harris - Anthropologist Developed from the academic discipline of cultural anthropology, ethnography is the study of people in their natural environment. It is increasingly being used by market researchers…