A survey uncovering the most pressing key issues shaping the lives of undergraduate students across 15 countries.
Top Five Global Takeaways
Each year, Chegg aims to uncover student perspectives on the most pressing key issues shaping their lives – from finances and mental health to the growing influence of technology and their hopes for the future. We are proud to present the 2025 Chegg Global Student Survey, a poll of undergraduate students across 15 countries. Alongside the Global Student Prize, this study furthers our goal of supporting students and ensuring that they have a voice.
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Given the growing impact of Generative AI on education and the workforce, we believed it was important to also explore students’ views on this transformative technology. Understanding their perspectives helps us provide valuable insights into how learners are adapting to these rapid changes.
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In this year’s survey, we asked students a comprehensive range of questions about their own use of GenAI, how they think it changes the educational landscape, and how institutions should react in response. This report outlines a considerable number of important findings showing that students are embracing GenAI tools to help improve the quality of their education and to boost their skills in order to compete in the global economy.
GenAI adoption has reached an overwhelming majority of students worldwide, with four in five (80%) of all undergraduates surveyed reporting they have used GenAI tools to support their university studies.
However, trust remains an issue. Among those who have used the technology to support their studies, 53% express concern about receiving incorrect or inaccurate information – making it the top concern globally, up from 47% in 2023. For students who have not used GenAI to support their studies, 38% cite accuracy as a key barrier. These two findings may explain why half of students worldwide (50%) are calling for the creation of GenAI tools specifically designed for education purposes.
Other improvements students requested included the involvement of human expertise in generating answers (49%) and data privacy safeguards (38%).
Despite their concerns, students have shifted in where they turn first for academic assistance. In Chegg’s 2023 Global Student Survey, the most popular immediate source of help for students was “free online resources”, and just 10% said they turned to GenAI tools first when stuck on a concept or assignment. Today, 29% of students report turning to GenAI tools first, surpassing free online resources (24%), friends/peers (15%), course materials (14%), and professors/teaching assistants (8%).
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Among those who have used GenAI to support their studies, 56% primarily use it to understand concepts or subjects, driven by motivations such as faster learning (55%, up from 53% in 2023) and personalized learning (35%). Students reported improvements in understanding complex concepts (50%, up from 44% in 2023), completing assignments (49%, up from 44%), and organizing their workload (41%, up from 40%). Reflecting this impact, 69% of all students agreed that their college or university should provide GenAI tools to support their studies.
The survey also shows that financial health is becoming a greater concern among students. Most surveyed students (70%) agreed that they would rather their university offered the choice of more online learning if it meant paying lower tuition fees (up from 66% in 2023). Similarly, 69% would prefer their university degree take a shorter time to complete if it were cheaper (up from 67% in 2023).
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Our survey revealed alarming numbers of students worldwide are experiencing mental health difficulties. Just 58% rated their mental well-being in the current term as ‘excellent’ or ‘good,’ reflecting ongoing concerns about emotional health. More than half (55%) experienced not getting enough sleep, while 44% said they had experienced daily feelings of anxiety, and more than two in five students (43%) experienced academic burnout.
We hope these findings offer meaningful insights that inspire educators, institutions, and policymakers to better support students and enhance the quality of education worldwide. In a time of rapid technological advancement, it is more important than ever to equip students with the skills and tools needed to thrive. With AI and emerging technologies transforming education, careers, and industries at an unprecedented pace, we must collectively ensure that students are prepared to thrive, holistically, in a future that is constantly being redefined.
ABOUT CHEGG.ORG
Chegg.org is the impact, advocacy, and research arm of Chegg, Inc. addressing the issues facing the modern student. For more information, visit chegg.org
ABOUT CHEGG
Millions of people all around the world learn with Chegg. No matter the goal, level, or style, Chegg helps learners learn with confidence. We provide 24/7 on-demand support, and our personalized learning assistant leverages the power of artificial intelligence (“AI”), more than a hundred million pieces of proprietary content, as well as a decade of learning insights. Our platform also helps learners build essential life and job skills to accelerate their path from learning to earning, and we work with companies to offer learning programs for their employees. Chegg is a publicly held company and trades on the NYSE under the symbol CHGG. For more information,
visit www.chegg.com
ABOUT THE RESEARCH
Chegg commissioned polling company Yonder Consulting to conduct the survey. Yonder Consulting interviewed 11,706 undergraduate students aged 18-21 in 15 countries between the 1st and 23rd October 2024. The countries included in the research are Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, the UK, and the US. Sample sizes ranged from 500 to 1,002 in each country. Global results represent the combined findings of the 15 countries studied. Yonder Consulting is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. For more details go to: www.yonderconsulting.com.