The Academic Learning Experiences Questionnaire (ALEQ)
Finn Hopson - ‘Deep Blue Sea’ Seven Sisters, East Sussex ©
The Academic Learning Experiences Questionnaire (ALEQ) is a validated measure designed to explore academic learning experiences in higher education. Developed with autistic and non-autistic university students, the ALEQ captures seven dimensions of academic learning experience: Microtransitions, Social Anxiety, Sensory Reactivity, Planning and Prioritising, Monotropic Focus, Group Work, and Global Comprehension.
The ALEQ was developed to support research, practice and institutional understanding of how students experience learning environments. Rather than focusing solely on individual characteristics, the measure explores aspects of academic experience that may reflect interactions between learners and educational contexts.
The questionnaire may be used by researchers, universities, student support services and others interested in understanding academic learning experiences and identifying potential areas of friction within higher education environments.
The ALEQ was validated in a large sample of autistic and non-autistic university students and is described in:
Anns, S., Davis, C., Millington, J. M., & Terry, J. (2026). Validating the Academic Learning Experiences Questionnaire: Microtransitions, sensory reactivity and cognitive-attentional dimensions in autistic university students. Autism in Adulthood.
Further resources, including an ALEQ implementation guide and recommendations for inclusive practice, are currently in development. We look forward to sharing these resources in the coming months.