Northumbria climbs the league tables with students more satisfied than ever

Students at Northumbria are officially more satisfied than ever before with the University jumping straight into the top 20 in this year’s Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey. 

The results of the national survey of student opinion – which were released today (Thursday 17 March) – see Northumbria rated as the 18th best university in the UK and the second in the North-East for student experience.

This is Northumbria’s best ever position in the survey – rising 14 places on its 2015 position - which demonstrates the University’s growing national and international reputation and follows on from a number of successes over the past year. 

Northumbria had the biggest rise in research power of any university in the Research Excellence Framework, the national assessment of research quality in UK universities. The University also scooped the Business School of the Year award at the prestigious Times Higher Education Awards and rose a staggering 26 places to 3rd spot in terms of satisfaction levels among overseas students, in the summer 2015 International Student Barometer survey.

More than 15,000 students from 117 UK universities took part in the Times Higher Education’s annual survey and were asked to rate how their universities performed in 21 different areas. These included the quality of the lecturers and facilities, library provision, accommodation, the on-campus environment and community atmosphere and the welfare support made available to students.

Sport at Northumbria was ranked joint fourth in the UK which further cements Team Northumbria’s outstanding performance in this year’s BUCS National League Table in which the University reached seventh position. Northumbria also lifted the Stan Calvert cup once again this year – beating rivals Newcastle University for the third year running.

The University scored particularly highly in a number of key areas, including high-quality facilities, atmosphere and environment on campus and good social life. Once again, Northumbria’s library facilities and opening hours topped the charts.

Professor Andrew Wathey CBE, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria University, commented: “Northumbria’s rating reflects our staff’s continued commitment to putting students at the heart of everything we do. It is also a reflection of the investments the University has made to improve the student experience and the environment in which cutting-edge research-rich teaching can take place.”