Objective: The aim of this study was to measure possible impacts of a salutogenic lifestyle education programme on wellness and academic outcomes in a group of socioeconomically disadvantaged students in the first year of higher education. Setting: University in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was utilised to assess the relationship between wellness and academic outcomes. Data were gathered using the Wellness Questionnaire for Higher Education, a semi-structured researcher-generated questionnaire and transcripts of academic results. Data were analysed using SPSSv20 and NVIVOv8. Results: Findings revealed that all students showed modest improvements in overall wellness scores. A correlation was found between student wellness and academic success (r = 0.362, p = 0.049), which was stronger for students who gained the highest marks (r = 0.610, p = 0.004) and who made two to three lifestyle changes. Conclusion: A holistic, salutogenic, wellness education programme shows potential to increase student wellness, which may then translate into student academic success.