Table 3 Summary of included articles

Andrew, L., Costello, L., Robinson, K., & Dare, J. (2021a [13]) Australia

Going-it alone: the university progression of women nursing students who are the first person in their intimate relationship to go to university

Explore the experiences of women nurse students, focusing on those who are the first person in their intimate relationship to enter HE

Qualitative longitudinal study with semi structured interviews

29 Women

• Juggling domestic responsibilities

• Caring responsibilities

• Work responsibilities

• Unsupportive partners

• Added pressure of community responsibilities for RRR students

• Lack of sense of belonging

• Some students were from RRR areas but not all

• All students were in heterosexual relationships

1

Andrew, L., Robinson, K., Dare, J., & Costello, L. (2021b [14]) Australia

Widening the lens on capital: conceptualising the university experiences of non-traditional women nurse students

Interpret the experiences of 28 mature-age women Bachelor of Nursing students and the factors influencing commencement and progression

Qualitative study with semi structured interviews

52 Women

• Juggling family responsibilities• Unsupportive partners• Study as leisure time• Relationship breakdowns• Face to face demands

• Some students were from RRR areas but not all• All students were in heterosexual relationships• Not all students were studying in an online mode

1

Bradley, D., Bourke, L., & Cosgrave, L. (2020 [15]) Australia

Experiences of nursing and allied health students undertaking a rural placement- Barriers and enablers to satisfaction and wellbeing

To investigate the lived experiences of nursing and allied health students on placement in rural and regional Victoria. Its purpose was to identify the enablers and barriers most strongly affecting placement satisfaction and personal wellbeing

Qualitative study with semi structured interviews

18 Women and men

• Communication barriers

• Clinical placements far away from home

• Commitments outside of university not considered

• Paid work

• Childcare

• The experience of women not highlighted specifically

• Both nursing and allied health students included

• Not all students were studying in the online mode

1

Crawford, N. (2021 [16]) Australia

“On the radar”: Supporting the mental wellbeing of mature-aged students in regional and remote Australia

Explore the experiences of mature-aged students who are in an from regional and remote Australia, to more deeply understand the diversity and complexity of equity group cohorts, as well as the need to understand more about how universities can proactively support students’ mental wellbeing

Concurrent transformative mixed-methods design with semi structured interviews

51 Women and men

• Challenging study environment at home

• Juggling responsibilities of student and parent

• Lack of sense of belonging

• Cost of travelling long distances

• Road integrity

• All students were mature aged

• The experience of women not highlighted specifically

1

Quilliam, C., Crawford, N., & McKinstry, C. (2021 [17]) Australia

Building a rural workforce through identifying supports for rural, mature-aged nursing and allied health students: A systematic scoping review

To scope factors influencing rural, mature-aged nursing and allied health students’ ability to access, participate, and succeed in higher education

Scoping review of student experience

14 articles Women and men

• Juggling domestic and caring responsibilities with study

• Communication issues

• Financial pressures

• The experiences of women not highlighted specifically

• All students were mature aged

• Both nursing and allied health students included

1

Ragusa, A.T., & Crampton, A. (2018 [18]) Australia

Sense of connection, identity and academic success in distance education: sociologically exploring online learning environments

To investigate what students perceived most affected their academic success when learning by distance education at an Australian rural university

Mixed methods using phone interviews

122 Women and men

• Sense of isolation when studying in RRR areas

• Disconnection

• Online learning environment inferior to on campus

• The experiences of women not highlighted specifically

• Both nursing and allied health students included

2

Stone, C., & O’Shea, S. (2019a [19]) Australia

Older, online and first: Recommendations for retention and success

To examine the nature of the higher education online student experience with a focus on women aged 25 and over

Qualitative in depth interviews

74 Women

• Dual identity of student and carer

• Guilt and tiredness

• Juggling multiple roles

• Financial responsibility and challenges

• University didn’t appreciate life outside of university

• Not all students were in RRR areas

• All students were mature aged

• The voices of Bachelor of Nursing students not highlighted specifically

1

Stone, C., & O’Shea, S. (2019b [20]) Australia

My children … think it’s cool that Mum is a uni student: Women with caring responsibilities studying online

To explore the experiences of women studying higher education degrees online

Qualitative in depth interviews

77 Women

• Impact of gender

• Complex additional responsibilities

• Domestic and caring responsibilities more important than study

• Not all students were in RRR areas

• All students were mature aged

• The voices of Bachelor of Nursing students not highlighted specifically

1

Wozniak, H., & McEldowney, R. (2015 [21]) Australia

Layers of transition: the lived experiences of online distance learners

To closely examine the lived experiences of regional online Bachelor of Nursing students who are managing a complex world of study, work and family life and build institutional responses to the realities experienced by such student cohorts

Qualitative interviews

5 Women and men

• Juggling responsibilities including family, financial, other caring, community

• Life outside of university not appreciated

• Inflexible learning design

• Small sample size

• The experiences of women not highlighted specifically

1