Swansea soars in Sunday Times guide and student satisfaction survey

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Swansea has jumped 12 places in the Sunday Times University Guide 2013, and is now on the threshold of the top third of all universities in the UK. Swansea is already in the top third in the UK for student satisfaction, as the National Student Survey, published recently, showed our rating rise to 87%.

The Sunday Times Guide shows that Swansea has risen from 57th to 45th, out of 126 institutions across the UK.  

The National Student Survey (NSS) is a comprehensive survey of students’ views across the UK, carried out by Ipsos-MORI.  The survey is anonymous.

Students are asked their views on areas such as teaching, how good staff are at explaining things, the feedback they get from tutors, library and IT facilities, their students’ union, and how well their course is organised.   2165 students, nearly 70% of all those eligible from Swansea, took part.

  • Swansea’s score for “overall satisfaction” is 87%, up from 82% last year, and higher than the Wales and UK average
  • Swansea improved in each of the 22 questions in the survey
  • Swansea has now climbed into the top-third of institutions for levels of student satisfaction, 42nd out of 136, a jump of 38 places compared to last year.  This is the biggest improvement in Wales

Professor Alan Speight, Pro-Vice Chancellor for student experience, said:

“We are absolutely delighted that Swansea University has ‘powered up’ the UK league table, as the Sunday Times describes it.   A leap of 12 places in one year means that we are now on the threshold of the top third of all universities in the UK, and is affirmation of the tremendous efforts of our staff and the effective partnership working we enjoy with our students that has delivered this fantastic result.

Students are at the centre of everything we do, so I am delighted to see that we are now in the top-third of all UK universities for student satisfaction.  To jump 38 places in one year is a great achievement and I want to extend my thanks to all the staff across the institution who have worked hard to bring about this improvement."  

Tom Upton, President of the Swansea University Students’ Union, commented on the satisfaction rating that students gave to the Union:

"The Students' Union are very proud to have achieved a score of 71% in the NSS.  It is testament to the hard work of all members of our Union - whether they be staff, students or elected officers."