XClose

UCL News

Menu

Changes to the National Student Survey

12 October 2016

There will be significant changes to the questions asked in the National Student Survey (NSS) this year, bringing the focus onto student engagement and clarifying a number of existing questions.

National Student Survey

The new questionnaire for 2017 has been developed through a three-year research programme undertaken by UK HE funding bodies as part of the Review of Information about learning and teaching and the student experience.

A full list of the new questions and summary of the HEFCE review can be found here, and the existing survey can be found here.

Key changes to the NSS

Ten questions have been added to the survey, nine existing questions have been reworded, and one section (personal development) has been removed entirely. The survey now contains 27 questions in eight sections.

A summary of the key changes is as follows:

· The teaching section remains largely unchanged, but includes a new question, 'My course has challenged me to achieve my best work', replacing existing question 3

· A new section has been added to the survey with three questions on learning opportunities

· Three of the questions on assessment and feedback have been amended, with the survey now asking if feedback has been timely (rather than prompt)

· Two of the questions under academic support have been amended to make it clear that they relate specifically to the course

· Questions under learning resources have been reworded for clarity

· A new section with two questions on learning community has been added

· There is also a new section with four questions on the student voice. The existing question on satisfaction with the students union has been replaced by one asking if the students' union effectively represents students' academic interests.

The Teaching, Assessment and Feedback and Academic Support averages will be used as key metrics in the Teaching Excellence Framework.

More information

To see a full list of the new questions and summary of the consultation please click here. For more information please contact Rebecca Allen in the Office of the Vice-Provost (Education and Student Affairs) at r.allen@ucl.ac.uk. 

Rebecca Allen, Student Experience Data Manager, UCL Office of the Vice-Provost (Education and Student Affairs)