Top marks: Southampton students satisfied with teaching and learning experience
Students at the University of Southampton are extremely satisfied with the quality of their courses, according to the findings of the National Student Survey 2008 published today (11 September).
Eighty-seven per cent* of University of Southampton students taking part in the survey said that they were satisfied with the overall quality of their course. This places the University 39th in the table of the 149 UK higher education institutions in the country and 7th within the 20 research-intensive Russell Group universities.
The most highly-rated subjects at Southampton are physical science, including chemistry, physics and astronomy, and ocean sciences and geology (97 per cent), and mechanically-based engineering (96 per cent), closely followed by human and social geography (95 per cent), and computer science, electronic and electrical engineering, European languages and physical geography and environmental science (94 per cent).
The University scored particularly well on the quality of its learning resources, with 89 per cent of students satisfied with library services and resources, general IT resources, and access to specialised equipment, facilities or rooms. This is significantly higher than the sector average of 81 per cent.
Almost 220,000 students responded to this year's NSS, the highest response rate ever in the four years the Survey has been running.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bill Wakeham, said: "This year's NSS results are once again testament to the quality of courses on offer at the University of Southampton and to the overall experience we offer our undergraduates during their time here. It is also an endorsement of the dedication and hard work of our teaching and support staff, as well as the investment the University is making in its student facilities to create a first-class environment in which to work and study."
Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Debra Humphris, said: "These results reflect the dedication of all our staff involved in supporting the experience of our students. Importantly, they also provide us with areas in which we can continue to improve."
Full details of the survey results are available at www.unistats.com
Notes for editors
*This percentage is based on figures from HEFCE which excludes NHS funded students.
The National Student Survey was conducted by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). The NSS covers nearly all final year undergraduates studying for higher education qualifications at higher education institutions and further education colleges in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and participating institutions in Scotland.
The University of Southampton is a leading UK teaching and research institution with a global reputation for leading-edge research and scholarship across a wide range of subjects in engineering, science, social sciences, health and humanities.
With over 22,000 students, around 5000 staff, and an annual turnover of over £350 million, the University of Southampton is acknowledged as one of the country's top institutions for engineering, computer science and medicine. We combine academic excellence with an innovative and entrepreneurial approach to research, supporting a culture that engages and challenges students and staff in their pursuit of learning.
The University is also home to a number of world-leading research centres, including the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, the Optoelectronics Research Centre, the Centre for the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, the Mountbatten Centre for International Studies and the Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute