Northumbria University students are more satisfied than the average UK university student, according to the results of the 2015 National Student Survey, in which the University has improved its ratings in almost every area.
The University achieved a score of 88% overall satisfaction in the annual survey which measures the opinions of final-year students as they finish their degrees – an increase of three percentage points on the previous year. The higher education sector has maintained an average satisfaction rating of 86%.
The National Student Survey asks final-year students to rate their experiences of studying at their chosen university, the quality of their course and the facilities they use. The answers help prospective students to make informed choices on the best places to study.
Northumbria has improved in 21 of the 22 questions and is now above or at the sector average in five of the six categories within the survey. In particular, Northumbria University is above the sector in the categories of teaching, assessment and academic support.
Northumbria students have reported particular satisfaction with the University’s Library and IT and learning resources reporting 91% satisfaction with library resources and services and 89% saying they have been able to access IT resources when needed.
Many of Northumbria’s courses achieved the top score of 100% satisfaction, including Business Leadership and Corporate Management; Business with Logistics and Supply Chain Management; Computer Forensics; Film and Television Studies; Nursing Studies (Child) and Operating Department Practice.
In total, over half of Northumbria’s courses achieved above 90% satisfaction, with Architecture, Fashion, Interior and Graphic Design scoring particularly highly.
The University’s success in the National Student Survey follows its significant improvement in research quality and graduate employability rates. Northumbria achieved the largest increase in research power of any university in the country in last year’s Research Excellence Framework (REF) which evaluates the quality of research in UK universities. The University has also seen an increase in graduate employment rates, with 94% of graduates in work or further study within six months of graduation according to the latest Destination of Leavers of Higher Education survey.
Professor Andrew Wathey, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria University, said: “Our successes in the National Student Survey, following the strong performance in the Research Excellence Framework signals that our strategy to transform Northumbria into a new kind of excellent university is paying real and visible dividends – especially in the core academic activities of teaching and research.
“We place great emphasis on listening to our students’ feedback and are pleased to see a significant increase in our students’ satisfaction, as well as improved performance in every question category compared to the previous year.”
Northumbria University has a limited number of places available to well-qualified students through Clearing, which opens tomorrow (Thursday 13 August). Students receiving their A Level and BTEC results can contact the University’s Clearing Hotline to speak with specially-trained staff about the options available to them, including a bursary and scholarship worth up to £7,000 in the first year for eligible students.
Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/clearing or call the Clearing Hotline on 0191 40 60 901. The Hotline is open from 7am to 6pm on Thursday 13 August and 8.30am to 5pm on Friday 14 August.
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