Northumbria’s learning resources praised in National Student Survey

Northumbria University continues to outperform the sector for student satisfaction, according to the results of the 2016 National Student Survey, released yesterday (Wednesday 10 August).

The National Student Survey asks final year students at all UK universities to rate their experiences of studying at their chosen university. They are questioned on the quality of their course, the facilities they use and how they have been supported in their personal development, with their answers used to help prospective students to make informed choices on the best place to study.

Northumbria University scored an average of 86% overall satisfaction, and performed above the sector average in the areas of providing academic support; prompt and clear assessment and feedback; and in personal development.

The University’s learning resources received particular praise, with 92% of students stating that they were satisfied with Northumbria’s library resources and IT services. The average score for this question across the sector was 87%. This reinforces the Library’s recent ranking as joint first in the UK according to the most recent Times Higher Education’s Student Experience Survey.

A number of Northumbria’s subjects were highly rated for overall student satisfaction, including History, which scored 99%. Subjects allied to medicine achieved 97% satisfaction and Politics, Physical Geography and Environmental Science all achieved 95% satisfaction.

Other subjects that scored 90% satisfaction or above include Chemistry, Drama, Sociology, Psychology, Microbiology and Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

Professor Peter Francis, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Northumbria University, said: “Providing an outstanding learning and teaching experience for our students is always at the forefront of our thinking, so we are pleased to see that Northumbria is performing above the sector average in a number of key areas in the National Student Survey.

“It is particularly pleasing to see that our students recognise the high quality learning resources we provide. These are being further improved over the coming months, thanks to our recent announcement of a major £52 million investment in new learning facilities, with building work already underway on new teaching facilities and on bringing together our student-facing services into a new and improved central zone.

“Here at Northumbria we are committed to ongoing improvements to the student learning experience and during the 2016/17 academic year, we will continue to ensure that we put the student at the heart of what we do.”

As A Level results day approaches next week, Northumbria University has confirmed it will have a number of places available to well-qualified students through Clearing, across its subject areas of Business, Law, Health and Life Sciences, Engineering, Environment, Arts, Design and Social Sciences.

Students receiving their results on Thursday 18 August can contact Northumbria’s Clearing Hotline on 0800 085 1085 or visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/clearing for more information.