Understanding how AI can best be used to support students is vital, as 91 per cent of students are already using AI in their studies, according to a new international student survey from Docsity.

The survey collected information on study behaviour from 350 higher-education students across the UK, the US, Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand. Docsity is a collaborative study and note-sharing platform, with access to 20 million secondary and higher education students across more than 180 countries.

“AI should not be seen as a shortcut or, worse, a replacement for traditional studying and critical thinking. It is, pure and simple, a powerful ally. Students have found a personal assistant to optimise their time, even at a time when many students maintain a highly critical perspective toward AI technology,” says Paolo Muoio, Chief Operating Officer of Docsity.

“As for the nine per cent who don’t use it, they aren’t just risking lower grades; they risk missing out on the foundational digital literacy that today’s job market completely takes for granted.”

Results also indicate that most students, 79 per cent, are studying from home and this is where they feel most productive. Regarding time of day, 35 per cent feel most productive between 5 pm-9 pm, behind early morning, 22 per cent, and late evening, 18 per cent.

A concentration crisis amongst students was also identified, with 41 per cent of respondents naming difficulty concentrating as their single biggest challenge to studying.

“The massive proliferation of social media, constant notifications, micro-content, and continuous device usage has inevitably fractured students’ attention spans. The EdTech sector must acknowledge this behavioural shift and build tools that engage with this reality rather than ignoring it,” says Filippo Tonello, Head of Marketing at Docsity.

And video is highlighted as important to students – 39 per cent claim video and online creators to be their most valuable learning source, higher than work experience, 30 per cent, conversations with friends and family, 16 per cent, and social media, seven per cent.

This survey provides insight into the behaviour of the modern-day student, highlighting how developments in technology are being used to support them in their studies, as well as presenting new challenges.