Student Happiness Index 2025/2026

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About the Student Happiness Index 2025/2026

We’re pleased to share the fifth annual Student Happiness Index report in which we explore college, undergraduate and postgraduate students' happiness and mental health, the challenges they’re facing, and their outlook on life after education.

What did student happiness look like in 2025/2026?

Student happiness in 2025 paints a complex but ultimately encouraging picture. Overall, levels of happiness have risen significantly compared to the previous year, with more students reporting that they feel happy and optimistic about their lives beyond education. This upward shift reflects a growing sense of resilience among students as they navigate an increasingly fast-changing world shaped by economic uncertainty and the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into everyday life.

However, this positive headline masks a deeper set of challenges. Many students are grappling with worsening mental health, financial pressures, and persistent feelings of loneliness, with these issues particularly acute within the LGBTQ+ community. These findings highlight a clear opportunity for institutions to strengthen community connections and ensure support services are visible, accessible, and responsive to the evolving needs of today’s students.

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You can preview the report’s executive summary here:

Two people sit outdoors, holding coffee cups and smiling, with books and greenery in the background.

Download the Student Happiness Index 2025/2026 report

Download the full report

In their own words

We had the privilege of talking to three students during the compilation of this report who told us about their life at university, the difficulties they’re facing, and what they’re doing to overcome these challenges.
A man wearing glasses sits at a desk, writing in a notebook with an orange pen next to a laptop.

Ayotunde

A postgraduate mental health nursing student, shares a proactive and disciplined approach to student life. His experience highlights the value of strong support, financial awareness and maintaining balance under academic pressure.

Read more here
Woman sits at a desk smiling and working on a laptop, holding a pen, with bookshelves in the background.

Rihanna

A first-year undergraduate, offers an honest perspective on university life not always matching expectations. Her story explores independence, mental health support and the challenges of building social connections.

Read more here
Woman with glasses writing in a notebook at a desk with a laptop and headphones in a home office setting.

Rosita

A PhD student in public health highlights the isolation that can come with postgraduate study. Her experience reflects the impact of loneliness, language barriers and intensive academic demands, alongside a positive outlook for the future.

Read more here
Three people outdoors, two women high-five while holding books, a man smiles in the background with a skateboard.

Read our 2024/2025 report

Have students’ challenges, concerns and optimism for the future changed since 2024/2025?

Download 2024/2025 report