The NSS is an annual survey of final year undergraduates across the UK. In 2012, QMU is participating for the second time.
The NSS is commissioned by the Higher Education Funding Council for England on behalf of all the funding bodies, including the Scottish Funding Council, and is conducted by Ipsos MORI. It is fully supported by the National Union of Students and the QMU Students’ Union and it is quick and easy to complete.
At QMU, the survey opens on 30 January 2012 and closes on 30 April 2012, at www.thestudentsurvey.com.
How are the results used?
The NSS results are made available at Unistats.com to help prospective students make informed decisions of where and what to study.
The University is provided with the anonymised data from the survey to help us identify areas where we are doing well, as well as areas for improvement, for the purpose of improving the student learning experience for future generations of students.
You can be sure that QMU makes good use of the data as we have a track record of acting on student feedback - see you said, we listened.
2011 NSS results
The results from the first year of QMU’s participation in the NSS, released in August 2011, show that 78% of students say that they are satisfied overall with their course/learning experience. The results reflect our commitment to continuous improvement, showing an improvement from the results of QMU’s own internal survey (which replicates the NSS survey) from the past three years. The results reveal some areas of excellent practice at QMU and we have an action plan in place to address areas where the survey reveals room for improvement. For more information, see www.qmu.ac.uk/feedback/NSSresults_2011.htm.
How can students take part?
If you are a final year student in the academic year 2011/12, Ipsos MORI will send you an email during the survey start week inviting you to take part. You will be able to complete the survey online.
Your responses to the survey are anonymised and contact details used only for the NSS.
How does the NSS relate to other student surveys carried out at QMU?
With a few exceptions, the survey only covers 4th year students. The NSS complements existing channels for students to provide feedback at QMU, which include Programme and Student-Staff Consultative Committees, discussions with individual staff members and through the Students’ Union, and our internal student survey.
What the Students' Union says
QMU’s Student President, Michael Breckenridge says:
"Queen Margaret University Students’ Union works together with the University on the promotion and analysis of the National Student Survey. The National Student Survey gives final year undergraduates the chance to reflect on their time at Queen Margaret and express their opinion of their learning experience here.
The results of the NSS help to give future students an insight into what it’s like to study at QMU while also assisting the institution in identifying what students value along with areas for enhancement. The NSS also helps the Students’ Union in ensuring that the student voice is heard at every level within the University.
For the results to be meaningful we need as many responses as possible. Completing the survey only takes a few minutes. Thank you very much for your support."
Further information
Further information on the NSS at QMU is available from Dawn Martin, Assistant Registrar, Quality Enhancement at QMU.
