Third places and student well-being: informal campus geographies at Institut Teknologi Bandung

The concept of third places within universities has been explored in various settings, such as libraries, student centres, and digital platforms, as spaces that facilitate interaction beyond the formal classroom. While research has often focused on libraries, student centres, and digital platforms, less attention has been paid to the physical and spatial characteristics of university campuses as third places and their implications for student well-being. This study aims to address these gaps by examining third places at Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) and their influence on student well-being. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and unstructured interviews with students, focusing on their use of campus spaces for relaxing, studying, and socialising. The analysis combined content analysis and descriptive analysis to identify patterns and quantify the impact of these spaces. Findings highlight the significance of informal spaces like canteens, parks, and alleys in supporting students’ academic and social experiences, while also revealing a lack of university management’s attention to these needs. The paper argues for a rethinking of university campuses as urban third places, highlighting the need for policy and planning interventions that better integrate everyday informal spaces into strategies for student well-being and inclusive campus development.