'student-centred' originates from English, formed as a compound of the noun 'student' and the noun 'centre' with the adjective-forming element '-ed' (indicating 'having a center').

'student' comes from Latin 'studēre' (to study, be eager) via Medieval Latin 'studens'; 'centre' comes via Old French 'centre' from Latin 'centrum' (from Greek 'kentron'). The compound 'student-centred' developed in modern English educational discourse in the 20th century.

Initially the elements meant 'one who studies' ('student') and 'middle/focus point' ('centre'); over time the compound came to mean 'having the student as the primary focus' in educational contexts.