Student Satisfaction Surveys

The University of Essex takes part in four major student surveys to gauge overall satisfaction among students, across the different years of study, in key areas. For example, surveys ask whether degrees match expectations, whether staff are enthusiastic about teaching and whether good resources, support and advice are available to students during their course of study. All four surveys are undertaken during the spring term.

About the surveys

The National Student Survey (NSS)
For final year undergraduate students, this annual survey and is conducted by Ipsos-MORI on behalf of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). It contains 21 questions in six groups, and one on overall satisfaction. Online surveys also provide the option for feedback and additional questions of our choice, such as about careers, social opportunities and facilities, and free text comments are encouraged. Results from the NSS feed in to University league tables featured in national newspapers.

In 2012, the NSS will run from Monday 23 January to Friday 20 April.  Please follow this link to complete the survey.

The Student Satisfaction Survey (SSS)
Conducted each spring term by the University, this annual ‘in-house’ survey is aimed at students in all years not covered by the NSS. It contains the same 21 questions as the NSS, arranged into six groups, alongside a question on overall satisfaction and a number of questions specific to the University of Essex, and all students can add free text comments. The combined results of the NSS and SSS mean we can gather results from students in all years of study. 

In 2012, the SSS will run from Monday 23 January to Friday 20 April. Please follow this link to complete the survey

The Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES)
Run by the Higher Education Academy bi-annually, this surveys all students taking postgraduate taught courses, for example MAs and MScs.  The University first participated in this survey in 2010. The survey asks students to comment on issues such as the quality of teaching and learning, assessment and feedback and organisation and management.

In 2012, the PTES will run from 15 February to 14 June.

Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES)
Also run by the Higher Education Academy bi-annually, this surveys all students undertaking postgraduate research courses. The University of Essex participated for the third time in 2011.

In 2012, the PRES will not run.

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How the surveys are run

All surveys are run principally online. The NSS is administered by Ipsos-MORI and the SSS by the Systems Administration team at the University. The PTES and PRES are organised by the HE Academy using an online survey facility provided by the University of Bristol.

Students that have not responded to the NSS after a few weeks will be sent a questionnaire by post. Ipsos-MORI may also telephone students towards the end of the survey, where they identify that the response rate is low in a particular subject. The SSS, PTES and PRES are only run online.

Questions about any aspect of the surveys should be sent to surveys@essex.ac.uk.

The University is required to pass details of students in their final year to Ipsos-MORI for the NSS. Students who do not complete the questionnaire online are invited to fill in a hard copy questionnaire. Each student has one attempt to complete the survey. All responses are reported anonymously.

Data protection and opting-out
The University of Essex is required to pass details of students in their final year to Ipsos-MORI for the NSS. This data is used only for the survey and removed from their systems as soon as the survey is over. Students who do not complete the questionnaire online are invited to fill in a hard copy questionnaire. Each student has one attempt to complete the survey. All responses are reported anonymously. For full details of how this data is used visit the NSS FAQ page. The SSS is run by the University of Essex and uses contact details directly from the Student Records Database which is covered under the University of Essex data protection policy.

We use the information provided to help improve the services and student experience we offer and comments always remain anonymous. The PTES and PRES asks for personal details in the administration of the survey in order for us to exclude students who have already completed the survey from further mailings. Although personal details are recorded alongside survey responses, we fully respect the confidentiality of responses; reporting and analysis of responses will always present anonymous data.  Once the surveys are completed personal details that may lead to the identification of an individual student are removed from the data. Some demographic information, such as gender, disability or ethnicity, is retained to monitor responses and results for different groups. Results are not published in groups where there are only small numbers of responses that may lead to individuals being identifiable. Any student that wishes to opt-out of any survey can do so by e-mailing 'surveys' (add @essex.ac.uk if you are not e-mailing from campus) or to opt-out of the NSS after mid-December preceding the survey contact Ipsos-MORI directly. Any questions about student satisfaction surveys may be e-mailed to ‘surveys’ (add @essex.ac.uk if you are not e-mailing from campus).

The University will contact eligible students by e-mail and text during the survey period. If a student does not wish to receive any communications, they should e-mail 'surveys' (add @essex.ac.uk if you are not e-mailing from campus) or call 01206 873300 and leave your full name and registration number to opt out.

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