Exploring coping strategies of transfer students joining universities from colleges
Abstract
Students transitioning from colleges to universities in the United Kingdom (UK) into the second or third year of an undergraduate programme must quickly adapt to a new learning environment and new expectations. The process of transition includes intense demands on their time and, for many, a requirement to commute. The consequence can be a limited university experience compared to those who began their studies in the traditional first year. With the increase in the numbers of transfer students studying at universities in the UK, this study was set up to explore the challenges of transition at two universities using an online survey and focus groups. Results show that transfer students cope with their transition to university in multiple ways, categorised into the following themes: learning expectations, peer support, online engagement, cue-seeking and efficiency. By supporting the use of these coping strategies, universities can facilitate a better student experience and enhance student success.
Citation
Foster , M , Mulroy , T & Carver , M 2020 , ' Exploring coping strategies of transfer students joining universities from colleges ' , Student Success , vol. 11 , no. 1 , 1617 . https://doi.org/10.5204/ssj.v11i2.1617
Publication
Student Success
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
2205-0795Type
Journal article
Rights
Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Open Access article. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence.
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