Four Domains of Students’ Sense of Belonging to University (Ahn & Davis, 2020)

The study found that students’ sense of belonging at university is multidimensional, encompassing not only academic and social engagement, but also their surroundings, such as living space and geographical/cultural location, as well as personal spaces related to life satisfaction, attitudes, identity, and interests. Both positive and negative experiences demonstrate the complex nature of belonging in higher education. To effectively support students, policies for engagement should address all four domains – academic, social, surroundings, and personal spaces.

Ahn, M. Y., & Davis, H. H. (2019). Four domains of students’ sense of belonging to university. Studies in Higher Education, 45(3), 622–634. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2018.1564902