Nyyti ry is a Finnish non-profit organisation supporting student wellbeing. The organisation conducted surveys from 2011 to 2015 among university students, focusing on their experiences and feelings during the first phase of their studies. Questions cover transfer to a new location and place of study, everyday life there, start of studies and support received, student organisation and tutor activities, and the role of alcohol in student life.
The object of the survey was to chart the first impressions that new university and polytechnic students had about beginning their studies. The survey examined the respondents' views on things related to starting in their new school, such as moving out of their childhood home, learning to live on their own, beginning of their studies, tutoring, student events and alcohol use in student events. Furthermore the respondents' views on their own capability in this new life situation were investigated. All students who began their studies in higher educational institutions in Finland in the fall of 2015 were eligible for the survey.
The first part of the survey charted moving and living conditions of the respondents by asking if they had moved out of their childhood home and/or hometown because of their studies. The respondents were also asked to evaluate how difficult things relating to living, such as finding an apartment and housekeeping were for them. In the next part, the respondents were asked how difficult they found things relating to school and student community, such as getting to know other students or doing their first actual schoolwork. The respondents were also asked about their views on the usefulness of student tutoring.
In the third part, the respondents were asked about their opinion on student events and parties. This was followed by several questions about alcohol use in conjunction with student events. In the last part of the survey, the respondents were asked to evaluate their life management skills in areas such as time management and stress control.
The background variables were the respondents' gender, age, and place of study.
Internet-survey on the web page of Nyyti Ry. New students who had begun their studies in the fall of 2015 in Finnish higher educational institutions had the chance to participate in the survey.