The University of St Andrews offers students the best academic experience in the United Kingdom, according to the results of a new survey.
Meanwhile Dundee University, which recorded overall satisfaction of 90 per cent, was ranked 9th in the UK in second in Scotland achieving a top 10 place for a second successive year.
The National Student Survey (NSS) named St Andrews the UK’s top mainstream university, the ninth time in the past 11 years it has topped the comprehensive analysis of the views of the United Kingdom’s student community.
A poll of nearly half a million students, the NSS is undertaken independently by Ipsos MORI and evaluates how satisfied students are with the quality of their higher education experience.
94% of St Andrews final year students surveyed gave the university top marks for the quality of the learning and teaching experience.
Professor Sally Mapstone, St Andrews University principal, said: “St Andrews students have long recognised the exceptional quality of learning and teaching and overall student experience on offer at our university.
“We work in partnership with our students to ensure we continue to provide the very best in facilities, support and learning resources for our students.
“Scottish universities are setting excellent standards in UK education and we are delighted to lead in the NSS which is a positive endorsement and demonstrates our deep rooted commitment to academic excellence and the student experience.”
The survey reflects student responses to questions relating to academic support, learning resources, teaching, management, assessment, personal development and satisfaction.
Professor Karl Leydecker, Vice-Principal at Dundee University, said: “We are delighted and very proud that Dundee is consistently ranked in the top 10 in the UK for student experience.
“This, our Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework, and many other accolades that the university has received in the past year demonstrates that Dundee is one of the best places in the UK to study.”
The NSS 2017 marked St Andrews first in the UK for 12 of the survey’s 27 areas of analysis.
St Andrews came out on top for providing intellectually stimulating courses, explaining issues clearly to students, making subjects interesting, the opportunities to explore and develop ideas, and for its accessible and contactable staff.
It was also number one for its good organisation, effective communication, fair marking and assessment, effective timetabling, the opportunity to give feedback, making students feel part of the community, and overall satisfaction with the quality of academic experience.
Lewis Wood, president of the St Andrews Students’ Association, said: “These fantastic results demonstrate the St Andrews student experience is truly outstanding.
“Both the university and the students’ association work hard to continue to improve upon the world-class student experience we provide to every student.
“I feel very proud to have been a part of this and I hope this news encourages students from around the globe to continue to apply and contribute to the University of St Andrews.”
Alex Hayman, Which? managing director of public markets, added: “As thousands of students throughout the UK receive their exam results this summer, these findings reveal how vitally important it is to make the right decision when applying to higher education.
“If you are applying to university in the near future, make sure you are clued up about the whole process, speak to your teachers, and don’t be afraid to get directly in touch with the universities that interest you.”
