Effects of a sleep program on sleep, performance and health in university students: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Insomnia and poor sleep are highly prevalent among university students and are linked to impaired mental and physical health, reduced cognitive functioning, and lower academic performance. Existing interventions for insomnia include cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), mindfulness, and sleep hygiene. CBT-I is widely recognised as effective but remains difficult to access for the general population and lack scalability, long-term follow-up, and feasibility in non-clinical settings. Pragmatic, group-based approaches that can be delivered within the university and are tailored to help students develop self-endorsed routines and competencies for better sleep, creating sustainable changes that extend beyond the program period, is needed. METHODS: This study is a pragmatic, two-arm randomised controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a group-based sleep program for university students with insomnia symptoms. A total of 118 full-time students aged 18-30 meeting diagnostic criteria for chronic insomnia disorder will be randomized (1:1) to either the intervention or a wait-list control group. The intervention comprises 12 weekly 90-minute group sessions followed by nine monthly follow-up meetings, facilitated by trained coaches. The program integrates core elements of CBT-I with motivational and coping strategies, delivered in an interactive and peer-supported format. The primary outcome is change in insomnia severity measured by the Bergen Insomnia Scale. Secondary outcomes include subjective and objective sleep measures, mental health, cognitive performance, academic attainment, health behaviours, physical fitness, and biological markers. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, post-program (12 weeks), and 12 months. A mixed methods process evaluation will assess fidelity, acceptability, mechanisms of impact, and contextual influences. DISCUSSION: This trial will be among the first pragmatic evaluations of a structured, group-based sleep intervention tailored to university students with insomnia. Key strengths include the randomised controlled design, comprehensive outcome assessment, 12-month follow-up, and embedded process evaluation. If effective, the program could provide a feasible, scalable, and cost-effective model to improve sleep and therein health, and academic performance in young adults in higher education.