What are the “unwritten rules” of academia that health and social care students wish they knew at the start of their journey?

Albeit limited, research has been conducted in the area of student expectations and associated satisfaction, however, there has been no research to date to investigate ‘unwritten rules’ of academia (Biles et al, 2022). The present study addresses that gap in the literature by investigating the ‘unwritten rules’ of academia, particularly within Health and Social Care students. A total of twenty-two students from Schools of Nursing and Midwifery and Allied Health and Social Care in the College of Health, Psychology and Social Care at the University of Derby engaged with the study, completing a survey distributed through convenience sampling via program announcements. Following the completion of the survey, a thematic analysis was conducted which found three main themes: Expectation of the course, variance between academics, and overall support. In conclusion, the findings suggested a clear need for more support in managing academic work and home life, as well as for the courses expectations to be better informed. The implications for the current research are greater awareness for university staff on the needs of their students, contributing to higher quality student-staff relationships.