The Health and Welfare of University Students in Britain, 1920-1939

Abstract

Throughout the interwar period, there was considerable discussion concerning the health and welfare of university students in Britain, involving university officials, student organizations and government departments. In the light of these debates, there was a significant expansion of amenities for students, which included halls of residence, playing fields, student union buildings, and the beginnings of medical examination and health facilities. This paper outlines these debates and some of the leading practical responses, particularly regarding the provision of health services. The extension of these arrangements for students raised important questions regarding the changing nature of the student population between the wars, the responsibilities of universities towards them and the increasingly significant role that students were beginning to take in national life.