Using Online Life Writing to Understand the Experiences of Estranged Students in UK Higher Education

Biographical research is an approach which can be used with marginalised groups in educational settings. This paper presents the findings of biographical research undertaken with estranged students in Higher Education (HE) who have no contact with their family and are studying without the support of a family network. Estranged students completed a Directive – a set of questions with prompts - which was hosted online. This online life writing approach generated rich data about the experiences of this small but emerging cohort of university students. The paper explores, through the life histories of the participants, how universities can support and encourage estranged students to succeed at university. The paper will also reflect on whether estranged students’ experiences vary according to the type of university they attend. Finally, the benefits and drawbacks of undertaking online life writing research will be considered