National Student Survey Results published

The University has received an overall student satisfaction score of 85% in this year’s National Student Survey (NSS), placing it 1.5% above the sector average and 7th in the Russell Group. This is a one point increase on last year’s unpublished results.

Student satisfaction

The NSS is commissioned annually by the Office for Students to invite undergraduate students’ feedback about their courses. The results are used by both the University and the Guild of Students to help improve student experience.

Professor Gavin Brown, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education said, “We are delighted that our students have reported an improvement in overall satisfaction with the University this year and that many of our subject areas have received very positive feedback. This is testament to the dedication of individuals and teams right across the University who have worked so hard to improve our students’ experiences. I would like to thank everyone who has played a part in this improvement.

“These survey results follow on from the University being awarded a Silver rating in the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF) after the institution’s resubmission earlier this year and recent figures showing we have the highest graduate employability rate of any university in the Russell Group.

“We will, of course, wish to continue to build on this success through further enhancing our courses. Curriculum 2021 will provide an enabling framework through which to achieve further improvements.”

2017 results

Last year, a preferendum held by the Guild ahead of the NSS led to many students not completing the survey due to its links with the Teaching Excellence Framework, which resulted in a smaller percentage of Liverpool students taking part. This meant that the University’s overall satisfaction result and most subject-level results did not meet the threshold for publication. This was an issue that affected a number of universities. As such, whilst this year’s NSS scores can be shared (where the threshold for publication has been met), they cannot be compared to last year’s unpublished results publicly.

Further analysis

For the first time this year, the raw data from the 2018 survey has been published with no embargo period. This means that detailed processing of the data is currently underway and the Market Intelligence Team will continue this work throughout the first week of August. Following on from this, results packs will be sent to Deans and Heads of Department. These will include departmental and programme level results, detailed reports for subject areas including sector comparisons, along with the free-text comments for departments.

Deans and Heads of Departments will disseminate departmental results to staff in early August.

University of Liverpool analysis of unpublished data.