What do new students think of UCL? The results are in

The first New to UCL Survey gives a broadly positive picture of the experience of new students.

Overall, 92% of new students who took part in the survey, agreed that they feel welcome and part of the UCL community, and 94% are satisfied with their overall arrival experience here.The survey was sent to just under 19,000 new students, both undergraduates and postgraduates, and 25% (4,600) took part. Congratulations to Bori Toth who won the £500 cash prize draw and also Felix Schmirler and Kiran Gopinathan who won a £100 Amazon voucher each. Winners have been emailed with the details.

The responses show that the university's reputation and location are the top reasons why students choose to study at UCL.  The cost of living in London and tuition fees are cited as the main reasons why students might decide not to take up their place with us.

Departmental welcomes

95% of new students agreed that staff in their department had made them feel welcome, although only 71% said that module selection was straightforward.

Awareness of support services is mixed, with 78% of new students aware of how to access UCL Careers if they need to, but only 60% aware of how to find Student Psychological Services and Disability Services.

Of those in UCL-managed accommodation, 92% agreed that the moving in process was well-organised and straightforward.

The survey, which ran throughout November, was developed after wide consultation by the Student Engagement team in the Office of the Vice-Provost (Education and Student Affairs).

Sally Mackenzie, Head of Student Engagement said, "We were really pleased to get such a good response to the survey - it's designed so that students can tell us what we're doing well and what needs improvement. We're now doing a lot of analysis and will then share the results across the university, so we can get to work making UCL education even better."

Make your voice heard

There are lots of ways of making your voice heard and helping to drive change at UCL.  If you're interested in joining focus group discussions on education-related topics, or helping us to test out new ideas, you could sign up to the Student Panel.

Or perhaps you have a new idea of your own which you think could have a positive impact on UCL? If so, you can apply for support and funding through the UCL ChangeMakers programme.  

For those of you looking to take on a leadership role and develop new skills while making a difference, you could become a Student Academic Representative (STAR) meaning you represent your peers and collaborate with staff in your department or faculty.  

Katie Price, Head of Communications, Office of the Vice-Provost (Education and Student Affairs)