Understanding the impact of social and academic factors on sense of belonging in higher education: A study from the Georgian educational landscape

Abstract

This study examines the link between students’ sense of belonging (SSB) in higher education and their socioeconomic characteristics. Using data from the 2019 EUROSTUDENT VII survey, we analyze 5,266 bachelor’s degree students across 50 Georgian higher education institutions. Our findings indicate: (1) Nontraditional students report lower SSB compared to their traditional peers. (2) Underrepresented students from low-income or first-generation backgrounds experience heightened SSB, while those from ethnic minority groups exhibit decreased SSB. (3) SSB correlates positively with lecturer satisfaction and negatively with study program intensity. (4) Private university attendees demonstrate higher SSB than their public university.