Newcastle University ranked among UK’s best for student satisfaction

An independent student survey has firmly positioned Newcastle as one of the best universities in the UK for student satisfaction. Published on 9 August, the latest National Student Survey (NSS) shows that 88% of students are satisfied with their experience at Newcastle University – placing it joint 15th in the UK when considered against comparator institutions.

Newcastle University’s score is well above the national average of 84%. It achieved high scores in the teaching and academic support categories, with 90% agreeing that staff are good at explaining things, and a further 90% saying they were able to contact staff when they needed to.

The strong results for student experience complement Newcastle University’s sustained success in a number of influential teaching and learning guides, including last month’s Teaching Excellence Framework, where the University received the highest rating: TEF Gold.

Professor Suzanne Cholerton, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Learning and Teaching, Newcastle University, said: “These results are a credit to the dedicated staff we have here at Newcastle University who are committed to providing our students with the best possible learning experience and opportunities for academic and professional development.”

The survey data shows that 92% of students were satisfied with the library resources and services, while 89% said they have been able to access IT resources when they needed to.

Professor Cholerton added: “We are delighted our students view their time at Newcastle positively and recognise the importance of working with our students to develop and enhance their educational experience by improving those areas that matter most to them. Recently this has included investment in teaching and library facilities and recruitment of 400 extra academic staff.”

Hannah McGeoghegan, Year 2 BA Hons Education student, said: “The teaching quality is great. I am thoroughly enjoying the lectures and seminars. It’s a great course that studies education in depth, it really expands your mind and you get to study a wide range of modules. We have the chance to study a language as an extra module, so I am currently also studying Japanese.’’

Oliver Burton, Year 3, Cellular and Molecular Biology undergraduate, added: “The quality of teaching has been absolutely fantastic, which is mainly because of how motivated the lecturers teaching us are about the subject. Everyone has their own specialities and is really helpful if either you need something explaining in more depth, or simply have a question about their area of biology.”

Going forward, the University is committed to a wider, £400m investment programme with projects including a £30m expansion of its sports facilities, and on its Science Central campus, it is constructing a £34m Learning and Teaching Centre. This state-of-the-art learning facility will house up to 2,200 students across three floors and include a purpose-built 750 seat auditorium.

Also opening on Science Central next month is the University’s £58m Urban Sciences Building, the new home for Newcastle’s world-leading School of Computing Science and its 1,395 staff and students. Next year will see the completion of the £75.5m Park View Student Village which replaces the former ‘Ricky Road’ accommodation block to become home to 1,300 future students.

The National Student Survey 2017 is the latest in a long list of independent student guides reflecting the high level of student experience and satisfaction at Newcastle University.

The Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey 2017 placed Newcastle University 8th overall in the UK, confirming it as one of the leading institutions in the country for the experience it offers to its students.

In the latest International Student Barometer (ISB) Survey 2016, the University scored a satisfaction rating of 94% from its international students. The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017 places Newcastle University among the best the UK for student satisfaction with an 88.4% score.

Date: Aug 12, 2017