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This study examines peer relationships and belonging among students in distance and blended university programs, with attention to the role of virtual reality (VR) within digitally mediated learning environments. Immersive VR teaching is included in the curriculum for distance learning students in the studied programs. Using a mixed-methods design, survey data and open-ended responses were collected from 17 students in Information Studies and Information Service Design. An adapted Classroom Community Scale was supplemented with items addressing the perceived contribution of different communication technologies. Contrary to expectations, fully distance learners did not report weaker agreement with statements reflecting belonging than blended students; on several items, they expressed stronger agreement, particularly regarding perceived peer support and learning opportunities. Results indicate that conventional 2D communication tools, particularly chats and video calls, are central to sustaining peer relationships. VR was not perceived as essential but described by some students as an added value supporting shared experience and group cohesion. Overall, belonging emerges as a socio-technical achievement shaped by communication practices rather than physical proximity.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/virtualworlds5020017","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,9]],"date-time":"2026-04-09T07:48:07Z","timestamp":1775720887000},"page":"17","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Virtual Reality and the Sense of Belonging Among Distance Learners: A Study on Peer Relationships in Higher Education"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"5","author":[{"given":"David","family":"Ko\u0161atka","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory for Information and Cognitive Sciences, Department of Information and Library Studies, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Arne Nov\u00e1ka 1, 602 00 Brno-st\u0159ed, Czech Republic"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Al\u017eb\u011bta","family":"\u0160a\u0161inkov\u00e1","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory for Information and Cognitive Sciences, Department of Information and Library Studies, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Arne Nov\u00e1ka 1, 602 00 Brno-st\u0159ed, Czech Republic"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6964-3440","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mark\u00e9ta","family":"Ko\u0161atkov\u00e1","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Social Education, Faculty of Education, Masaryk University, Po\u0159\u00ed\u010d\u00ed 7, 603 00 Brno-st\u0159ed, Czech Republic"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tom\u00e1\u0161","family":"Hun\u010d\u00edk","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory for Information and Cognitive Sciences, Department of Information and Library Studies, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Arne Nov\u00e1ka 1, 602 00 Brno-st\u0159ed, Czech Republic"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6319-5317","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"\u010cen\u011bk","family":"\u0160a\u0161inka","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory for Information and Cognitive Sciences, Department of Information and Library Studies, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Arne Nov\u00e1ka 1, 602 00 Brno-st\u0159ed, Czech Republic"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Garlinska, M., Osial, M., Proniewska, K., and Pregowska, A. 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