Student Feedback Policy

03 Mar 2010

Students can expect feedback within a defined timescale

The University has given a commitment to provide students with feedback on their assessed coursework within a defined timescale.

Students on all units will be able to expect feedback within 15 days of the final submission deadline or 20 days in exceptional circumstances as approved by the Faculty.

This is the key feature of a new Feedback Policy which has been drafted following extensive consultation with students and staff and which was agreed in principle by Senate last month – subject to a number of minor amendments.

Seventy nine per cent of students consulted felt that two to three weeks was an appropriate period of time to wait for feedback.

The new Policy acknowledges the need for a flexible approach that can be adapted to the different needs of each discipline and the level a student is studying.

However the two overarching requirements of the Policy are that feedback is provided in a timely manner to allow the student to make use of it and improve their performance, and that feedback must be tailored to the individual student to allow them to reflect on their own skills and performance.

The Policy marks a key development in moving forward the Teaching and Learning agenda at the University, in particular addressing the low-levels of satisfaction with feedback and assessment expressed by final year undergraduates at the University of Manchester in the National Students Survey.

Other areas covered by the Policy include managing student expectations to ensure they are aware of how feedback will be given and how it should be used and the requirement for Schools to facilitate individual student requests to see exam scripts, without charge.

It is expected that the Policy will be fully implemented in the next academic year although some Schools will be in a position to implement the new requirements more promptly.

Vice-President for Teaching and Learning, Professor Colin Stirling, said: "We've listened to our students and our students are telling us that they feel that our feedback processes could be improved."