University’s National Student Survey results released

03 Jul 2019

Message from Clive Agnew as NSS score improves

The results of the National Student Survey have been released today, with our University increasing overall satisfaction from 83% to 84%. This means we have maintained our ranking at 13th in the Russell Group and we are above the overall English average. It is important to note that the vast majority of Russell Group NSS outcomes are now clustered in the mid-80s. 

The NSS has taken place every year since 2005 and asks students, generally at the end of their studies, 27 individual questions and through open comments.  We report on the percentage score of question 27: ‘Overall, I am satisfied with the quality of the course’. 

As well as being an important assessment of how our students feel about the University, the NSS is also an important component in many league tables and the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). 

This year’s increase in overall satisfaction level is welcome and I would like to pay tribute to all of our colleagues who have helped to ensure this improvement.

It also goes to show that our students are responding to significant investment in areas such as the physical campus and wellbeing, and programmes like Stellify which set us apart from other institutions.

However, it is clear the other institutions are also making improvements. It is therefore important that we continue to invest and ensure that every member of staff is supported in delivering the best possible experience for our students while they are with us. 

We will now be taking a more in depth look at our institutional and local results to see where we can continue to improve. More detailed results are available on the Office for Students website. 

I will be providing more context for you in a Viewpoint blog in the near future, where you will have the opportunity to share your views.

Clive Agnew

Vice-President for Teaching and Learning