How do you create the perfect study group?
Since 2022, a research project at Aarhus BSS has been investigating which compositions of study groups can help reduce dropout rates in university degree programmes. The first results, which may hint at the recipe for the perfect study group, are starting to come in.
Dropout from university degree programmes is a persistent challenge, with consequences for both the individual student and the institution. Therefore, back in 2022, Aarhus BSS launched a research project aimed at strengthening the formation of study groups to explore whether the composition of these groups could influence retention among first-year students.
The research group consists of Postdoc Kristoffer Ibsen, Professor Alexander Karl Koch, Professor Julia Nafziger, and Professor Michael Rosholm.
“Our research project aims to identify which group compositions have the most beneficial effects. Based on that, we hope to be able to recommend specific ways of forming study groups in the future,” explains Kristoffer Ibsen, who researches economics of education at the Department of Economics and Business Economics and the TrygFonden's Centre for Child Research.
The research project is based on a review of the existing literature, in which more than 7,000 articles were screened to identify those that had credibly evaluated interventions aimed at reducing dropout. Out of the thousands of studies, 38 were selected:
“Among these, we found that interventions manipulating the composition of student groups showed the most promising potential for reducing dropout. On that basis, the study group project was launched. Since then, we have worked with classes 2022, 2023, and 2024, and have now also started with class 2025,” says Kristoffer Ibsen.
Thus, on 1 October 2025, the research group began analysing dropout rates among the first three classes.
Study groups are formed during the orientation week
Joining a study group at Aarhus BSS is voluntary, and so is participation in the research project. Even before their commencement of studies, the students receive a letter in e-Boks with all the research-related information they need before giving consent.
On the first day of the orientation week, students complete a questionnaire. Based on their answers and academic backgrounds, study groups are created. On the second day of the orientation week, the students are placed into these groups.
“In terms of participation, we find that almost everyone takes part. Those who do not are typically students who never show up for the programme or those who receive credit transfers and therefore choose not to participate. We have the groups ready by day two, but if some students arrive later during the orientation week or afterwards, they are, of course, also offered the opportunity to join a study group,” explains Kristoffer Ibsen.
The questionnaires are not used to match similar profiles. Rather, the goal is to form groups based on different characteristics, allowing the researchers to examine which compositions have the greatest impact on reducing dropout. At present, they are working with around 69 different types of study group compositions.
The students’ needs take precedence
For ethical reasons, there are certain group compositions that the research group does not allow, as previous studies have shown that some configurations can be potentially harmful.
“Specific American studies show that if students are divided into groups according to their average grade, and you place those with the lowest grades together with those with the highest, the students with the lowest grades often feel that the others are far more capable than they are. This can lead to a sense that they do not belong at university, and as a result, they are more likely to drop out than they otherwise would have been,” concludes Kristoffer Ibsen.
Therefore, students with the highest and lowest grades are not placed together, as there must at least be some form of ‘bridge builders’ in between. The researchers also avoid forming study groups where there is only one person of one gender and several of another. Groups are either same-gender or are more evenly balanced in terms of gender:
“Research indicates that underrepresented groups should not be left isolated. This also applies at the class level. For example, if you have four classes of 25 students and a total of 12 women in the year group, it does not make sense to spread them out with three in each class. It is better to group them together so that they do not become an underrepresented minority within their class.”
He emphasises that this consideration applies not only to gender but also to other underrepresented groups, such as international students or those who are older than the average student.
Heterogeneous study groups can support students with lower grades
“You really need to think carefully about how you form study groups and divide students into classes. It is incredibly important because the first people you meet are your classmates, and that has a major impact on how you get through your degree. It is also one of the few things we can influence from the very beginning. Often, dropout initiatives only come into play when someone fails a course or starts losing interest. At that point, it is harder to take effective action, because it may already be too late,” he concludes.
The research group hopes that the study will provide new insights to help universities reduce dropout rates right from day one. Preliminary results suggest that a more systematic organisation of study groups – based on personality and academic background – can help retain more students who entered their degree with lower grades and are therefore at higher risk of dropping out.
“The preliminary findings indicate that heterogeneous study groups can play a particularly important role in supporting students who begin their studies with lower grades. In the long run, this may help more students complete their degrees, which is a clear benefit both for the students themselves and for the university,” says Kristoffer Ibsen.
The research group is still investigating what the optimal group compositions might look like and hopes to publish their results in the coming year.
“For teachers and directors of studies at AU, this means that, in time, we will be able to offer a research-based model to support the work of forming study groups and planning class allocations. The goal is for more students to get a good start to their studies and, as a result, have a better chance of completing their degree,” concludes Kristoffer Ibsen.
He also emphasises that a good start to university life is not only about how classes and study groups are composed but also about meeting students with enthusiasm and inspiring teaching from day one, helping them confirm that they have chosen the right path.
“The first weeks and months of a degree are crucial for whether students feel part of the community and believe they belong. That is why the composition of study groups is so important. But it also makes perfect sense to assign the most engaged and inspiring teachers to the first semesters, when everything is still new for the students,” concludes Kristoffer Ibsen.