Northumbria
University continues to outperform the sector for student satisfaction,
according to the results of the 2017 National Student Survey.
The
National Student Survey (NSS) 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.
The
University scored 85% overall satisfaction, above the sector average of 84%. In
specific areas Northumbria performed above the sector for the application of
information learnt, opportunities to work with other students and being
provided with prompt assessment feedback. The University’s IT and library
resources are also rated ahead of the sector average.
This
score has led to a rise of nine places from 60th to 51st in overall student
satisfaction.
A
number of Northumbria’s subjects were highly rated for overall student
satisfaction, including Human and Social Geography, which scored 100%. Physical
Geography and Environmental Science scored 96% satisfaction, and Anatomy,
Physiology and Pathology scored 95% satisfaction. Accounting, Psychology, and
subjects allied to Medicine all scored 94% satisfaction.
Other
subjects that scored 90% satisfaction or above include Architecture, Electronic
and Electrical Engineering, History, Information Services, Journalism and
Sociology.
In
June, the University’s teaching excellence was acknowledged with a Silver Award
in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), which recognised the delivery of
high-quality teaching, learning and results for its students, and consistently
exceeds rigorous national quality requirements for UK Higher Education.
Over
the last year, the University has embarked on a £52m investment in the student
experience, including a new state-of-the art Computer and Information Sciences
Building, Architecture Building as well a new centralised student service
facility, Student Central.
Professor
Peter Francis, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Northumbria University, said: “The results of the National Student Survey 2017
shows that the strong emphasis placed by the University on education and
learning continues to benefit our students, something the Silver Award in the
Teaching Excellent Framework recognised.”
“Northumbria
is now in the top 50 institutions in the UK for Good Honours, outperforming the
sector for the first time in 2015/16 and has also risen 30 places in the HESA
Employment measure to now rank top in the North East.”
“We
have outstanding students, and it is only right that we continue to invest in
making their experience at Northumbria one of the best in the country.”
Northumbria
University recently achieved its highest ever position in the 2018 Guardian
University League Table, 48th, a rise of 20 places in the last two years alone.
Ranking 7th nationally on the ‘value added’ measure. The University
is also in the top 50 in the UK for research power and had the fourth largest
increase in quality research funding (REF 2014) and is ranked as the top
university in the UK for graduate start-up businesses based on turnover.
