Content area
Aim
This scoping review examines the challenges that university students face due to mandatory unpaid placements, with a focus on nursing, midwifery and healthcare programs.
BackgroundWhile these placements are essential for professional training and provide valuable real-world experience, they often impose significant financial burdens—particularly for students unable to balance paid work alongside their placement commitments.
Design and MethodsA scoping review was conducted to synthesise the literature between January 2014 and June 2024. A search was conducted in eight databases (ERIC (EBSCO), Academic Search Complete, Web of Science, MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane CINAHL, PsychINFO and Sportdiscus). Reports were screened by three reviewers. Data were then extracted and thematically analysed by two other authors.
ResultsNine papers met inclusion/exclusion criteria (three qualitative reports, three quantitative reports and three opinion pieces). The findings reveal that mandatory unpaid placements impose a significant financial burden on healthcare students, especially mature-aged Australian students, which can negatively contribute to their mental health and well-being and lead to student attrition.
ConclusionsFinancial hardships due to mandatory unpaid placements cause adverse effects on students’ mental health and well-being, and student retention. The review identifies key research gaps, including research on students in regional universities and the impact of healthcare student retention and the longer-term future of the healthcare workforce. Changes to policy and practice are recommended, including establishing targeted financial assistance programs, implementing flexible academic structures and comprehensive policy reforms to address the financial, emotional and professional challenges students face in mandatory unpaid placements.
Details
Postsecondary Education;
On the Job Training;
Experiential Learning;
Occupational Therapy;
Attrition (Research Studies);
Academic Achievement;
Student Attrition;
Expenditures;
Language Proficiency;
Physical Health;
Obstetrics;
Database Management Systems;
School Holding Power;
Authentic Learning;
Nursing Students;
Meta Analysis;
Family Income;
College Students;
Databases;
Professional Development;
Opportunities;
Integrated Activities;
Higher Education;
Poverty
Retention;
Attrition;
Midwifery;
Professional development;
Policy making;
Physical therapy;
University students;
Unpaid;
Well being;
College students;
Student retention;
Midwives;
Learning;
Higher education;
Nursing education;
Workforce;
Side effects;
Nursing;
Professions;
Occupational therapy;
Health care;
Professional training;
Mental health;
Program implementation;
Nurses;
Reforms;
Health services;
Reports;
Colleges & universities
; de Gracia, Ma Regina 2 ; Missen, Karen 2 ; Allen, Louise 2
; Muduwa, Miriam 3
; Peel, Rebecca 4
1 Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University, Mt Helen, Victoria, Australia
2 Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University, Churchill, Victoria, Australia
3 Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University, Berwick, Victoria, Australia
4 Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University, Berwick, Victoria, Australia; Health and Biomedical Sciences, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia