What do students really think? The 2008 NSS results

Since 2005, the NSS results have been positive, with high overall satisfaction among students, in 2006 four out of five students stated that they ‘mostly agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ with the statement ‘Overall, I am satisfied with the quality of the course’. Past NSS results have highlighted positive trends in teaching quality, indicating that the vast majority of students positively rate their academic experience.

Areas for concern
Despite the positive results for overall satisfaction, there have been areas of the student experience highlighted by students that need improvement.

Assessment and Feedback
Each year, across the board and regardless of student or institution type, assessment and feedback has been poorly rated, with almost one third expressing dissatisfaction with their institution’s approach.

Find out more about NUS’ work about feedback on assessment and the Great Feedback Amnesty, where you can download a campaign toolkit on how to take action in this area at your institution.

Disabled and Ethnic minority students
Disabled students and those from certain ethnic minority backgrounds were also seen to be less likely to rate their academic courses as positively as those without disabilities, or from a white background.

A snapshot of the 2008 NSS results
This year, the NSS captured responses from 220,000 students – approximately 64% of higher education students, but what did students really think about their courses of study on a national level in higher education courses and further education colleges?

Students studying higher education courses in higher education institutions

• In higher education institutions, most areas evaluated have shown small gains of between 1 and 3% - almost none have seen falling scores since the 2007 survey
• Scottish students in higher education institutions appear to enjoy slightly higher satisfaction with most aspects of the student experience. Assessment and feedback is the only exception to this where Scotland receives the lowest scores in the UK at 59%. In particular, less than half (49%) of Scottish students were happy with the promptness in detail and effectiveness of their feedback.
• In Northern Ireland, resources and facilities rate highly, with just 9% of students unhappy with levels of access to IT resources.
• Just over a third (36%) of students, rate assessment and feedback negatively, and this area remains the poorest rated area of the NSS in higher education institutions.

You can download an in-depth Education Information briefing on the results for higher education institutions.

Students studying higher education courses in further education colleges

• Approximately 7.4% of students of all HE students study within FE colleges, and this number is set to rise in line with national developments to colleges abilities to award degrees.
• For the first time in 2008, HE students having their course delivered in a Further Education College (HE in FE) in England were included in the survey, of which 56% of eligible students responded to the survey this year.
• Overall, HE in FE students responded with 76% satisfaction – markedly lower than the 82% satisfaction given by students taught in HEIs.
• In addition, for the questions relating to course organisation and management, these students are significantly (13%) less satisfied with the organisation and management of their course than those in higher education institutions.

Download an in-depth Education Information briefing on these results.