Since Circular Economy (CE) has emerged as a transformative framework for sustainability, the role of higher education institutions (HEIs) in fostering CE principles through education, research, and student engagement has become increasingly relevant. However, whereas institutional strategies and curriculum-based approaches to CE have received growing attention, the contribution of student leadership in advancing CE practices remains underexplored. Student leadership plays an important role in institutional transformation by bridging the gap between CE principles and practical implementation. This study provides a systematic and exploratory analysis of how student leadership promotes and implements CE initiatives within HEIs. It was guided by four objectives, namely, examination of the literature on student-led CE initiatives, analysis of the role of student leadership in CE implementation, identification of institutional barriers that hinder leadership development, and assessment of the perceived benefits of student engagement in CE transitions. The methodology included a systematic literature review of Scopus and Web of Science databases, which identified 15 relevant academic publications. Bibliometric and content analyses explored thematic patterns and initiative types and an additional exploratory literature review extended the analysis to leadership roles, challenges, and benefits. According to the findings, student leadership plays an important, yet often under recognized, role in driving circular transformations through activism, entrepreneurship, and institutional advocacy. However, the efforts are frequently constrained by limited support structures and integration into formal governance. The study contributes to the literature by framing student leadership as a strategic force for CE adoption in academia and calls for greater institutional commitment to empowering students as sustainability change agents.