Effect of Students Unrest on Academic Performance of Accounting and Finance Students: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic search into the empirical literature on the influence of student unrest on the academic outcomes of accounting and finance students. The research aimed to mainstream existing knowledge of campus protest and institution-related disruptions in student learning continuity, mental health, examination performance, and progression in schools. Design/methodology/approach: The methodology of conducting a systematic literature review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Identified peer-reviewed academic journals published between 2015 and 2025 included articles from several academic databases (such as: Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar). Thematic analysis was undertaken to identify dominant themes and themes related to student unrest, academic disruption, and student performance data. Findings: The results reflect that student unrest is affecting academic performance negatively through three main aspects. These are a shortening of lessons, high level of students psychological stress and anxiety, and disruptions to assessment processes. The results show also that accounting and finance students are of special concern in this regard in view of their structured and procedural based programmes, where they need the provision of learning that is both ongoing and sequential. The review also emphasised that institutional resilience measures such as blended learning and academic recovery programmes can alleviate the impact of unrest. Implication/Originality/Value: This article is a discipline-specific contribution to the research on the topic in higher education, specifically accounting / finance education. It is of practical relevance to university administrators and decision makers regarding academic continuity during a time of institutional disruption. The research points out the necessity to focus interventions in prevention of negative impact to the professional business programmes against campus disturbances.