Ocean and Earth Science National Student Survey 2016 results demonstrate high student satisfaction
Results of this year’s National Student Survey (NSS) show excellent satisfaction levels for Ocean and Earth Science degrees at the University of Southampton. Among the categories being rated by final year students, teaching, personal development and learning resources scored highly. The results support Ocean and Earth Science’s status as the leading Marine Science department in the UK (REF2014, Unit of Assessment 7).
The survey demonstrated good levels of student satisfaction with teaching. 100% of BSc Oceanography students and 97% of MSci Marine Biology agreed that ‘the course is intellectually stimulating’, whilst 100% of MSci Marine Biology students agreed that ‘staff are good at explaining things’. 92% of MSci Geology students were satisfied or very satisfied with the teaching of their course. As a result, many students felt they had benefitted from their personal development. MSci Marine Biology scored 97% for personal development and 97% of this group students agreed that ‘my communication skills have improved’.
Learning resources have also been endorsed by this year’s NSS. 95% of MSci Marine Biology students were satisfied or very satisfied with the learning resources. 100% of MSci Marine Biology students and 95% of Oceanography and Marine Biology students and BSc Geology students agreeing that ‘the library resources and services are good enough for my needs’. 95% of Oceanography and Marine Biology students agreed that ‘I have been able to access general IT resources when I needed to’. Our students learn in our world renowned Waterfront Campus; take a virtual tour here.
Overall course satisfaction rates were high for Ocean and Earth Science, with 100% MSci Marine Biology students satisfied or very satisfied with the overall quality of their course; 97% of Oceanography and Marine Biology and 92% of MSci Geology.
Other University of Southampton sites
One of the things that makes a Geology degree at Southampton stand out is the fact that we go on so many field trips. I particularly enjoyed the Tenerife trip as part of the third year Volcanic and Mantle Processes! The lava flow exposures were really great to see and of course, the weather was lovely to work in!
My studies and experiences at Southampton shaped my future massively as it gave me the skills employers were looking for.
Much of what I learned while studying at Southampton applies to my sailing. Weather patterns, ocean currents and seabed topography were just a few of the subjects covered in depth during my time there.
The opportunities are phenomenal. The mixture of theoretical and hands on learning is what I think makes this course so much fun and keeps it interesting.
Examples of success- NSS 2016
Geology and Geophysics
Teaching
90% of Geology and Geophysics students agreed that the course is intellectually stimulating
Learning resources
92% of Geology and Geophysics students were satisfied or very satisfied with the learning resources
93% of Geology and Geophysics students agreed that the library resources and services are good enough for my needs
92% of Geology and Geophysics students agreed that I have been able to access general IT resources when I needed to
90% of Geology and Geophysics students agreed that I have been able to access specialised equipment, facilities or rooms when I needed to
Oceanography and Marine Biology
Teaching
93% of Oceanography and Marine Biology students agreed that the course is intellectually stimulating
Learning resources
92% of Oceanography and Marine Biology students were satisfied or very satisfied with the learning resources
95% of Oceanography and Marine Biology students agreed that the library resources and services are good enough for my needs
95% of Oceanography and Marine Biology students agreed that I have been able to access general IT resources when I needed to
Personal development
91% of Oceanography and Marine Biology students agreed that my communication skills have improved
91% of Oceanography and Marine Biology students agreed that as a result of the course, I feel confident in tackling unfamiliar problems
Overall
90% Oceanography and Marine Biology students were satisfied or very satisfied with the overall quality of their course
BSc Geology
Learning resources
91% of BSc Geology students were satisfied or very satisfied with the learning resources
95% of BSc Geology students agreed that the library resources and services are good enough for my needs
91% of BSc Geology students agreed that I have been able to access general IT resources when I needed to
MSci Geology
Teaching
92% of MSci Geology students were satisfied or very satisfied with the teaching of their course
92% of MSci Geology students agreed that staff are good at explaining things
92% of MSci Geology students agreed that staff have made the subject interesting
92% of MSci Geology students agreed that staff are enthusiastic about what they are teaching
92% of MSci Geology students agreed that the course is intellectually stimulating
Learning resources
92% of MSci Geology students were satisfied or very satisfied with the learning resources
92% of MSci Geology students agreed that the library resources and services are good enough for my needs
92% of MSci Geology students agreed that I have been able to access general IT resources when I needed to
92% of MSci Geology students agreed that I have been able to access specialised equipment, facilities or rooms when I needed to
Personal development
92% of MSci Geology students agreed that my communication skills have improved
Overall
92% of MSci Geology students were satisfied or very satisfied with the overall quality of their course
BSc Oceanography
Teaching
92% of BSc Oceanography students agreed that staff are enthusiastic about what they are teaching
100% of BSc Oceanography students agreed that the course is intellectually stimulating
Academic support
92% of BSc Oceanography students agreed that good advice was available when I needed to make my study choices
Learning resources
92% of BSc Oceanography students were satisfied or very satisfied with the learning resources
92% of BSc Oceanography students agreed that the library resources and services are good enough for my needs
92% of BSc Oceanography students agreed that I have been able to access general IT resources when I needed to
92% of BSc Oceanography students agreed that I have been able to access specialised equipment, facilities or rooms when I needed to
MSci Marine Biology
Teaching
94% of MSci Marine Biology students were satisfied or very satisfied with the teaching of their course
100% of MSci Marine Biology students agreed that staff are good at explaining things
90% of MSci Marine Biology students agreed that staff have made the subject interesting
90% of MSci Marine Biology students agreed that staff are enthusiastic about what they are teaching
97% of MSci Marine Biology students agreed that the course is intellectually stimulating
Academic support
90% of MSci Marine Biology students agreed that I have been able to contact staff when I needed to
Organisation and management
90% of MSci Marine Biology students agreed that the timetable works efficiently as far as my activities are concerned
90% of MSci Marine Biology students agreed that the course is well organised and is running smoothly
Learning resources
95% of MSci Marine Biology students were satisfied or very satisfied with the learning resources
100% of MSci Marine Biology students agreed that the library resources and services are good enough for my needs
97% of MSci Marine Biology students agreed that I have been able to access general IT resources when I needed to
Personal development
97% of MSci Marine Biology students were satisfied or very satisfied with the personal development offered by their course
93% of MSci Marine Biology students agreed that the course has helped me to present myself with confidence
97% of MSci Marine Biology students agreed that my communication skills have improved
100% of MSci Marine Biology students agreed that as a result of the course, I feel confident in tackling unfamiliar problems
Overall
100% MSci Marine Biology students were satisfied or very satisfied with the overall quality of their course
MSci Marine Biology with Oceanography
Organisation and management
94% of MSci Marine Biology with Oceanography students agreed that any changes in the course or teaching have been communicated effectively