ECS National Student Survey 2016 results demonstrate high student satisfaction

Results of this year’s National Student Survey (NSS) show excellent satisfaction levels for Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) at the University of Southampton. In both Computer Science category and the Electronic and Electrical Engineering category, final year students from ECS ranked fourth among the prestigious Russell Group Universities.

The results reflect a continuing improving experience for students in ECS with 93 per cent of Computer Science students and 92 per cent of Electronic and Electrical Engineering students saying they were satisfied or very satisfied with the overall quality of their course.

Recent improvements for students include outstanding the new £4m computing and teaching laboratories, opened by the Minister of State for Universities and Science in autumn last year – 93 per cent of Computer Science students were satisfied or very satisfied with the learning resources on their course.

Our Electronic and Electrical Engineering degrees have been ranked first in the UK by the Guardian university Guide 2017 and standards on these programmes are reflected in student responses through this survey: 90 per cent of students agreed that the course was intellectually stimulating and 96 per cent agreed that staff are good at explaining things.

Head of ECS, Professor Paul Lewin was pleased with the results. “Within the team we work hard to listen to students’ feedback and identify how we can continue to improve the quality of experience and outcomes. It is pleasing to see these developments reflected in our students’ responses; their feedback will help us work to remain one of the best places in the UK to study electronics and computer science.”

The National Student Survey has been conducted annually since 2005 by HEFCE and IpsosMori and asks final year undergraduates for feedback on their universities and courses. Core questions in the survey cover the student learning experience including: teaching on my course; assessment and feedback; academic support; organisation and management; learning resources; personal development; students’ union and overall satisfaction.

Examples of success – NSS 2016

BSc IT in Organisations

• 100% of students were satisfied or very satisfied with the overall quality of their course
• 98% of students were satisfied or very satisfied with the personal development offered by their course
• 90% of students were satisfied or very satisfied with the learning resources available on their course

• 92% of students were satisfied or very satisfied with the organisation and management of their course
• 91% of students were satisfied or very satisfied with the learning resources available on their course
• 96% of students agreed that they have been able to access general IT resources when they needed to

• 93% of students were satisfied or very satisfied with the learning resources available on their course
• 93% of students agreed that they have been able to access general IT resources when they needed to
• 94% of students agreed that they have been able to access specialised equipment, facilities or rooms when they needed to

• 95% of students were satisfied or very satisfied with the overall quality of their course
• 96% of students were satisfied or very satisfied with the teaching of their course
• 95% of students agreed that the course is intellectually stimulating and 100% agreed that staff are good at explaining things
• 95% of students agreed that they have been able to access general IT resources when they needed to