Postgraduate peer support: what students valued

Updated Oct 27, 2026

Master’s students valued the time to discuss their thesis work in small groups and hear perspectives from other disciplines. Nathalie Hyde-Clarke’s case study in the Student Engagement in Higher Education Journal examines a student-led peer-support pilot at Oslo Metropolitan University.

What the case study examined

The voluntary pilot at Oslo Metropolitan University in Norway invited master’s students to discuss thesis work. Across its events in 2023, 30 of 37 attendees, about 81%, answered anonymous open questions about enjoyment and improvements.

What students valued

Small groups mattered. Comments valued discussion time and comfort. Students also described useful perspectives from other disciplines.

Facilitation shaped the experience. Student facilitators presented first; participants described this as reassuring.

Recruitment and continuity needed attention. The account describes difficulty attracting participants and replacing organisers after graduation, alongside positive responses from attendees.

The evaluation captured immediate responses from a small, self-selecting group. It did not follow participants’ longer-term experiences.

References

[Paper Source]: Nathalie Hyde-Clarke. "‘Be Wise and Participate’: Introducing Student-led Cross-Disciplinary Peer Support for Masters Students"

DOI: 10.66561/sehej.v7i2.1357

Published 6 November 2025.