News

Durham University gets 4th best score for overall student satisfaction

(23 August 2006)

The results of the second annual National Student Survey have confirmed Durham as one of the UK's front-runners for student experience - based on the assessment of students themselves.

Students voted in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and for the first time this year, Scotland, on a range of satisfaction issues and Durham emerges in the UK top ten, according to tables compiled from the results by organisations including the BBC (6th) and the Times Higher Education Supplement (7th among full-service residential universities). Durham University, the current Sunday Times ‘University of the Year’, scored the joint fourth highest points for ‘overall satisfaction’ maintaining its 2005 position even though the survey has been expanded to include students at Scottish universities. Durham's 4.2 score on overall satisfaction was the fourth highest nationally, maintaining last year's position, while its average position across all categories improved from 3.96 to 4.00. The response rate by students rose from 56.8% last year to 62.4% - six points above the national average. In the North East, Durham University proved to be the students’ favourite for the second year running with both the highest score for ‘overall satisfaction’ and the highest average score for all categories of the five institutions in the North East (Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside Universities). The University also performed well in comparison to eight institutions similar in terms of application requirements and course provision*, coming out top in five out of seven of the survey categories and with the highest score for ‘overall satisfaction’ in the group. Professor Alan Bilsborough, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) at Durham University welcomed the results of the National Student Survey: “We see this survey as a really useful additional source of feedback which, alongside our own channels of feedback, helps us identify good practice and plan further systems of continuous improvement. “A distinctive student experience is a huge part of what makes Durham so special. Not only do our academic staff produce world-class research that informs their excellent teaching to a diverse student body, but our collegiate system offers our students an extra layer of social engagement, personal development and academic support. We believe that our 16 college communities make a huge difference to the personal development of each individual and that this Durham difference is reflected in these encouraging results.” Alex Duncan, President of Durham Student Union (DSU) commented: “This survey goes some way to show why Durham produces such strong, well-rounded graduates with one of the highest rates of degree completion in the UK (98 per cent). In addition to getting an excellent academic education, Durham students do much more with their time here, taking part in the vibrant life of their college, whether it be running societies, getting involved in drama or community projects or playing sport. The brilliant thing about the college system is the potential for someone to take part in the way that suits them, be it playing sport once a week for their college or playing everyday for the university. Durham not only has a diversity of student activities, but really excels in them too - last year our charity committee, DUCK, raised over £250k for charity, drama societies put on 67 plays, six of which went to the Fringe and the university rowers won the British Universities league.” * The usual comparator group for Durham in terms of course provision and application requirements comprises the following ten institutions: Bath; Bristol; Durham; Edinburgh; Exeter; Lancaster; Newcastle; Nottingham; Warwick; York. (Warwick did not take part in this survey). The overall national table of average scores is topped by two specialist institutions (the Open University and the private University of Buckingham) and includes Birkbeck, the London college for mature students. These are not directly comparable in terms of student experience with Durham, which stands at 11th in the overall UK list.