Reading offers top university experience according to national survey
Release Date 17 August 2011
The University of Reading is ranked in the top 20 UK universities for student satisfaction according to the National Student Survey (NSS) 2011. Three departments received 100% overall satisfaction levels with 17 other departments¹ receiving a satisfaction rating of 90% or higher.
As prospective students consider their choice of preferred university for 2012, the quality of the student experience has never been more important in informing that decision. Overall student satisfaction levels at the University of Reading, according to NSS, has risen to 89% an increase of 1% on 2010 and ranks the University ahead of the majority of Russell Group and fellow 1994 Group universities for the quality of the student experience.
Professor Tony Downes, Acting Vice-Chancellor at the University of Reading, said: "Young people planning to enter higher education in 2012 will be thinking very hard about the quality of their potential choice of university and what constitutes the right university for them. At our university, we are proud that those who matter most, our students, consistently rank Reading as one of the top university experiences in the UK.
"The University of Reading is a research-intensive university and our students will, on many courses, benefit from being taught by research-active staff. We are constantly striving to improve the quality of the student experience and we are pleased that our students have, in particular, recognised the strength of our teaching (88% satisfaction), academic support (80%) and the levels of support we offer for personal development (83%), all of which are well above the sector average. We have also improved on our 2010 performance in nearly every institutional category."
The departments of Typography & Graphic Communication, Archaeology and Meteorology and the classics programmes taught within the Department of Classics received 100% overall satisfaction ratings from their students, while History, Philosophy, Institute of Education, Law, English, French, Politics, ICMA, Management, Real Estate & Planning, Agriculture, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Food & Nutritional Sciences, Statistics, Mathematics and Clinical Language Sciences were rated with satisfaction levels of 90% or higher.
The next Open Days for prospective students take place on Saturday 8 October and Saturday 22 October. More information on the University of Reading at www.reading.ac.uk.
ENDS
Further information from Alex Brannen on 0118 378 8005
Notes to editors:
- ¹ 20 out of 34 subject areas at Reading were rated at 90% or over, including three at 100%. 11 subject areas were rated between 80-90% and 3 above 70%.
- The National Student Survey (NSS)is a national initiative, conducted annually since 2005. The survey runs in the first quarter of the year across all publicly funded Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and participating HEIs in Scotland.
- The survey asks final year students on undergraduate courses or equivalent to provide feedback on their courses in a nationally recognised format. Students are asked to indicate the extent to which they agree with a series of positive statements relating to the following aspects of the student learning experience: 63% of eligible Reading students contributed to the NSS.
- The results of the survey are provided to participating institutions to help inform future practice and experience enhancement, and are also made available to prospective students and schools as part of the suite of data and information about universities on Unistats, the UCAS-managed website.
- The 2011 National Student Survey results were launched on 17 August. The national average score across the sector for students who responded to the question 'Overall, I am satisfied with the quality of my course' was 83%. Sector average for quality of teaching was 85%, Academic support - 77% and personal development 80%.
- The University of Reading is a member of the 1994 Group of 19 leading research-intensive universities. The Group was established in 1994 to promote excellence in university research and teaching. Each member undertakes diverse and high-quality research, while ensuring excellent levels of teaching and student experience. www.1994group.ac.uk