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Nine out of ten students satisfied with University

Release Date 12 August 2014

Students have passed judgement on the University of Reading

Almost 90% of students are satisfied with University of Reading and its students' union was ranked seventh in the UK, according to the independent National Student Survey 2014 (NSS) published today.

The figures show that University is ranked 37th out of 156 institutions in the UK for overall satisfaction - the same as last year. The overall satisfaction level of 89.1% is well above the sector average of 86%. It means the University continues to consolidate its position inside the top quarter of institutions nationally.

Reading University Students' Union (RUSU) has 84.6% overall satisfaction - a rise of five percentage points year-on-year and well above the sector average of 68%. It sees RUSU rising 11 places to seventh nationally.

Other highlights include overall satisfaction remaining above the national average for teaching; academic support; course organisation and management; and personal development.

The NSS is the key measure of student satisfaction. It is carried out annually by Ipsos MORI; contributes to other independent league tables; and has built a broader picture of the quality of higher education since it started in 2005.

This year's survey was completed by 1,949 final-year Reading students. The response rate was of 74%, up five percentage points since last year and above the sector average at 71%.

The key findings include:

  • 89.1% overall satisfaction for the University - up slightly from 89% last year. The University is ranked 37 overall, compared to 37 in 2013 and 38 in 2012.
  • The University is above the sector average for overall satisfaction for teaching (89% compared to 87%) - and ranked 34th nationally. 92% of students say staff are good at explaining their subject and 85% that they make their subject interesting; 89% say that staff are that enthusiastic about what they are teaching; and 90% that the course is intellectually stimulating - ranked 19th nationally.
  • Students had 83% overall satisfaction with academic support (compared to a sector average of 81% - ranked 37th nationally); course organisation and management (86% to 79% - ranked 12th nationally); and personal development (84% to 82%).
  • The University library resources and services see a seven percentage point rise in overall satisfaction year-on-year to 87% overall, and a 11 percentage point rise since 2012.
  • Overall satisfaction for feedback and assessment has risen a further two percentage points year-on-year - to 70%. It has risen seven percentage points since 2010.
  • Nine courses had 95% or more overall satisfaction: Imaginative Writing (100%); Archaeology (95%); Aural and Oral Studies (96%); Chemistry (95%); Design Studies (97%); Drama (97%); Electronic and Electrical Engineering (96%); Italian Studies (96%); and Zoology (95%). A further 11 had more than 90% overall satisfaction.
  • 12 subjects are in their respective 25% nationally for overall satisfaction - Agriculture and Related Studies; Archaeology; Aural and Oral Studies; Chemistry; Design Studies; Drama; Electronic and Electrical Engineering; Finance; Italian Studies; Marketing; Mathematics and Statistics; and Zoology.
  • 12 subjects are in their respective top-10s nationally for overall satisfaction - Italian Studies (1st - out of nine institutions ranked); Design Studies (2nd); Aural and Oral Sciences (3rd); Electronic and Electrical Engineering (4th); Archaeology (5th); Agriculture and Related Subjects (5th); Drama (5th); Food and Beverage Studies (5th out of nine institutions ranked); Zoology (5th); Marketing (8th); Pharmacology and Toxicology (9th); and Building (10th).

Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell said: "We must meet the demand from students for outstanding teaching, services and facilities - this good set of results shows that we are rising to the challenge.

"It is pleasing we have strengthened our results for academic advice and support and staff contact, as well as in timetabling and structuring courses.

"But there is always more to do. We cannot rest on our laurels and have to listen carefully and act on students' concerns.

"We are investing heavily in teaching and learning facilities. The extension of the library to 24/7 opening in term-time, as well as the completion of a £4.4m refurbishment programme, will build on the big rise in satisfaction with it over the last two years. We have invested heavily in other facilities - pumping £1m into extending wif-fi across all our campuses and finishing a major refurbishment and rebuilding project in our student halls of residence. The final phase of that work will be marked soon as Bridges Hall opens its doors to its first undergraduate students next month.

"We are still just below the sector average for feedback and assessment. So from the coming academic year, we are introducing a 15-day turnaround limit on the return of work to students. This is a crucial pledge - a clear expectation of the support that all students should expect from staff at the University."

RUSU President Natalie Harper said: "RUSU is delighted to announce that we have increased our ratings in the NSS making us the seventh best students' union, in terms of satisfaction, in the country. We are honoured that students appreciate and value our services so highly as we work hard engaging with students in order to represent their needs in the most fulfilling manner. This year we will continue to build on this excellent feedback."