The University of Essex is in the top 20 nationally for student satisfaction according to the National Student Survey (NSS) for 2010.

Eighty-eight per cent of our students expressed overall satisfaction with their course - placing the University of Essex 16th for student satisfaction in England.

The University's satisfaction level is up by three per cent on last year and is five per cent above the national average of 83 per cent.

Several departments have achieved 100 per cent satisfaction ratings meaning they are amongst the leading departments for student satisfaction in the UK.

Departments with 100 per cent satisfaction ratings are:

• Art History and Theory
• Philosophy
• Psychoanalytic Studies

Many other subjects ranked in the top 20 for the UK:

• Biology and related Sciences - 3rd out of 89 universities
• Sports Science - 18th out of 75 universities
• Psychology - 13th out of 108 universities
• Electronic and Electrical Engineering - 11th out of 59
• Economics - 6th out of 63 universities
• Politics - 6th out of 70 universities
• Sociology - 15th out of 96 universities
• East 15 Acting School - ninth out of 115 for Performing Arts
• Linguistics - 9th of 25 universities
• History - 14th of 91 universities

The survey also recorded improvements in satisfaction levels for teaching, assessment and feedback, academic support, organisation and management and personal development.

More than 60 per cent of students took the opportunity to express their views on their department and the results confirm a trend of continuing improvement in satisfaction levels at the University.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Academic Standards Professor Andy Downton said: ‘These results are very positive and encouraging as an improvement from last year.

'It will be interesting to analyse them in more depth to see if we can identify the particular features of the student experience at Essex that have resulted in this improvement. 

'A significant factor this year may have been the more effective support which was provided by the Student Union."

The National Student Survey is undertaken on behalf of the Higher Education Funding Council for England and covers all final year undergraduates. It was completed by more than 200,000 students at higher education institutions and further education colleges across the country.

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For more information please call 01206 873529 or email: comms@essex.ac.uk