By Rosie Niven | 12 August 2014
Satisfaction levels for students studying at UK universities and colleges has hit a 10-year high, with 86% of those polled saying they were satisfied overall with their course.
The figures revealed in this year's National Student Survey, which was published today, showed improved ratings in teaching, academic support and learning resources since 2013.
Satisfaction has either improved since 2013 or stayed the same in each of the seven categories covered by the survey, with overall satisfaction up from 85% to 86% this year.
According to the poll, 7% of students were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with their higher education experience in 2014. A further 5% were dissatisfied, while 2% were strongly dissatisfied.
Professor Madeleine Atkins, chief executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England which funded the research, said the survey had been ‘fundamental’ to driving change in universities and colleges.
‘In a period of technological advancement, internationalisation and funding reforms, the NSS will continue to enable students’ views to be heard and to stimulate innovation and excellence in teaching and learning in our universities and colleges,’ she said.
Some 321,000 final-year students responded to this year’s survey, and the response rate of 71% was the highest since it began 10 years ago.
A record number of universities and colleges from across the UK took part, including 156 higher education institutions, 166 further education colleges and three private higher education providers.
The results are used by university management teams, academics, students’ unions and others to guide improvements the curriculum, teaching, learning resources and academic support. They also provide information for prospective students
Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, welcomed the survey results. 'It shows that universities across the UK are responding to student feedback and working hard to improve the academic experience,' she said.
