Examining failure at university
Predicting academic failure amongst undergraduate first-year students
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21555715 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Cameron Lydster (0000-0001-9145-8583, Bond University, corresponding author), Beata Webb (0000-0002-5542-9969, Bond University), Gäelle Brotto (0000-0003-3599-5960, Bond University), Masanori Matsumoto (0000-0002-0939-9498, Bond University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-23 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-20 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Higher Education Research & Development (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0729-4360 • E-ISSN: 1469-8366 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/07294360.2026.2669504 |
| OpenAlex | W7161847873 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 61 |
Within the context of higher education in Australia, academic failure at undergraduate level has not been comprehensively investigated. This study sought to determine factors that predicted failure amongst undergraduate students after two semesters of study. Failure was defined as having a cumulative GPA below a passing grade. At the research site, factors included indigeneity, academic writing literacy, Faculty/college of enrolment, engagement with academic support services, gender, and language background. Amongst a variety of academic and non-academic factors, this study utilised results on a post-entry language assessment (PELA), which screened students according to their academic essay writing skills. The study was conducted over five semesters and comprised a multidisciplinary sample. This research equips university decision makers with a profile of students who may face difficulties navigating the rigours of tertiary education. It subsequently allows key stakeholders to allocate resources appropriately and effectively to respond to academic failure
Academic achievement · Academic advising · Graduate students · Higher education · Qualitative research · Higher Education Research Studies · Innovations in Educational Methods · Medical Education and Admissions
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Universities Australia 2017–2020 Indigenous Strategy
Indigenous voices
Patterns of educational performance among Indigenous students in Australia, 2010–2019
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Predicting study success of international students
A practical academic reading and vocabulary screening test as a predictor of achievement in first-year university students
A university post-entry English language assessment
The relationship between English language proficiency test scores and academic achievement
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A meta-analysis on the predictive validity of English language proficiency assessments for college admissions
Student pathways at the university
Student experience and tertiary expectations
Understanding the Challenges, Yet Focusing on the Successes
Exploring Transformative Learning at the Cultural Interface
Indigenous Undergraduates' Use of Supplementary Tutors
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |