This article presents a systematic review of student success during the transition to university, reframing it as a multidimensional, person-centred process. It integrates academic, psychosocial and wellbeing domains, proposing a tripartite definition of success. The consolidation of factors into five domains offers conceptual clarity for practitioners. Key insights include the modifiability of protective factors, the need for updated measurement tools and the importance of pre-arrival support. The review calls for holistic, proactive interventions and broader success metrics, with implications for universities, feeder institutions and policymakers aiming to help students thrive, not just persist.