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

Hands, Caroline A ORCID: 0000-0002-0898-8258, Limniou, Maria ORCID: 0000-0002-6317-4038 and Stevens, Catherine (2025) Expectations and Reflections About Starting University-A Qualitative Focus Group Study with First- and Third-Year Psychology Students TRENDS IN HIGHER EDUCATION, 5 (1). 2-. ISSN 2813-4346, 2813-4346

Access the full-text of this item by clicking on the Open Access link.

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.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	university transition, focus groups, qualitative, academic expectations, higher education
Divisions:	Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Population Health Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Population Health > Psychology
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	06 Jan 2026 10:27
Last Modified:	16 Jun 2026 05:08
DOI:	10.3390/higheredu5010002
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.3390/higheredu5010002
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3196303
Disclaimer:	The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate.