The University of Essex is in the top 20 in England for student satisfaction according to the National Student Survey (NSS) for 2011.

Eighty-eight per cent of Essex students expressed overall satisfaction with their course - placing the University 20th out of English mainstream universities. This is five per cent above the national average of 83 per cent.

The figures also show the University has maintained the high overall satisfaction levels achieved last year and improved its performance in key assessment areas.

Students from the Department of Government were amongst the most satisfied with 97 per cent saying they were satisfied with their Politics course – the 6th highest rating in the country out of 64 institutions.

Other departments with strong performances for overall satisfaction included:

• Art History and Theory – 95 per cent
• Philosophy – 95 per cent
• Sociology – 95 per cent
• History – 93 per cent
• Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies – 93 per cent
• Psychoanalytic Studies - 93 per cent.
• Psychology – 90 per cent
• Biological Sciences – 89 per cent
• Economics – 89 per cent
• Law – 89 per cent
• Health and Human Sciences – 88 per cent

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

Close to 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.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Jules Pretty said: “We are very pleased we have maintained our excellent performance for overall student satisfaction. This means we remain in the top 20 of English universities for student satisfaction and are well above the national average.

“We have also seen significant improvements in satisfaction levels for key areas such as personal development and academic support.

“We value the views of our students and we will analyse these results carefully to identify how we can continue to improve the student experience at Essex.”

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 around 265,000 students at higher education institutions and further education colleges across the country.

Full details are available on the Unistats website at: unistats.direct.gov.uk/

Ends

For more information contact the University of Essex Communications Office on 01206 874377 or email: comms@essex.ac.uk