1. The National Student Survey (NSS) 2015 University of Edinburgh – Initial Findings Student Surveys Unit 7 th August 2015 1

2. The National Student Survey (NSS) 2015 The NSS 2015 results were released to institutions on Friday 31 st July 2015. Benchmarking data was then released on Friday 7 th August 2015. The information remains under public embargo until Wednesday 12 th August 2014. The University of Edinburgh Student Surveys Unit has analysed the data available and this report provides the following information: Provides a basic breakdown of % Agree scores by School based on the Overall rating and Primary Themes – Teaching; Assessment and Feedback; Academic Support; Organisation and Management; Learning Resources; Personal Development* Shows a School % Agree comparison between 2015 and 2014. Provides benchmarking data with Russell Group, Scotland and Edinburgh. Identifies the impact each School has on the overall institutional rating for Overall Satisfaction 2 *See ‘Notes and Definitions’ at the end of this document for further information on the questions included in each Primary Theme.

3. 3 Key Findings The University of Edinburgh Overall satisfaction score has improved by 2% (84%) in comparison to 2014. At the University level, satisfaction with Assessment and Feedback rose by 4% (59%) in comparison to 2014 and saw the largest increase of all the Primary Themes. The overall response rate increased by 3% to 76% in 2015, and exceeded the University target of 75%. The % agree score increased in six of the seven Primary Themes. The remaining Theme, Learning Resources, remained the same compared to the previous year. More Schools increased than decreased in all of the Primary Themes.

4. Contents In Slide Show view, click on the header below to skip to this section 2015 - Results by School 2015 vs 2014 – Results by School Impact of School Satisfaction on Overall Satisfaction Russell Group, Scotland and Edinburgh comparison Notes and Definitions

5. 2015 results by School

6. Response Rate % - 2015 School v University of Edinburgh Average (76%) 13 Schools above target 6 Schools below target 2 Schools equal to target

7. Overall Satisfaction % Agree - 2015 School v University of Edinburgh Average (84%) 11 Schools above average 9 Schools below average 1 School equal to average

8. Teaching on my Course % Agree - 2015 School v University of Edinburgh Average (87%) 12 Schools above average 9 Schools below average

9. Assessment and Feedback % Agree - 2015 School v University of Edinburgh Average (59%) 9 Schools above average 10 Schools below average 2 Schools equal to average

10. Academic Support % Agree - 2015 School v University of Edinburgh Average (77%) 12 Schools above average 8 Schools below average 1 Schools equal to average

11. Organisation and Management % Agree - 2015 School v University of Edinburgh Average (78%) 13 Schools above average 7 Schools below average 1 Schools equal to average

12. Learning Resources % Agree - 2015 School v University of Edinburgh Average (89%) 9 Schools above average 10 Schools below average 2 Schools equal to average

13. Personal Development % Agree - 2015 School v University of Edinburgh Average (79%) 12 Schools above average 8 Schools below average 1 Schools equal to average

14. 2015 vs 2014 results by School

15. Overall Satisfaction % Agree - 2015 v 2014 Overall satisfaction increased from 82% in 2014 to 84% in 2015, and has remained fairly consistent over the previous 4 years (83% in 2012) 10 Schools increased, 9 Schools decreased and 2 Schools remained the same compared to the previous year Largest increase – MAT (+28%) Largest decrease – PHY (-13%) 7 Schools increased by 5% or more (MAT, GEO, HCA, HEA, ECN, EDU, SPS) 2 Schools decreased by 5% or more (ECA, PHY)

16. Teaching on my Course % Agree - 2015 v 2014 Teaching on my Course increased by 1% to 87% compared to previous year, and has remained fairly consistent over the previous 4 years (87% in 2012) 12 Schools increased, 7 Schools decreased and 2 Schools remained the same compared to the previous year Largest increase – MAT (+13%) Largest decrease – PHY (-13%) 4 Schools increased by 5% or more (GEO, HCA, SPS, MAT) 1 School decreased by 5% or more (PHY)

17. Assessment and Feedback % Agree - 2015 v 2014 Assessment and Feedback increased by 4% to 59% compared to the previous year, and has increased by 7% since 2012 15 Schools increased, 5 Schools decreased and 1 School remained the same compared to the previous year Largest increase – MAT (+21%) Largest decrease – ECA, ECN, PPL (-4%) 11 Schools increased by 5% or more (DIV, BIO, CHE, HEA, MAT, GEO, HCA, SPS, EDU, ENG, MVM) 0 Schools decreased by 5% or more

18. Academic Support % Agree - 2015 v 2014 Academic Support increased by 1% to 77% compared to the previous year, and increased by 4% since 2012 12 Schools increased, 8 Schools decreased and 1 School remained the same compared to the previous year Largest increase – SPS (+11%) Largest decrease – ECA (-10%) 8 Schools increased by 5% or more (BMS, MAT, EDU, GEO, LAW, HCA, SPS, PPL) 2 Schools decreased by 5% or more (PHY, ECA)

19. Organisation and Management % Agree - 2015 v 2014 Organisation and Management increased by 1% to 78% compared to the previous year. This is a slight decrease compared to 2012, but has been fairly consistent over the past 3 years 12 Schools increased, 8 Schools decreased and 1 School remained the same compared to the previous year Largest increase – CHE (+16%) Largest decrease – PHY (-15%) 6 Schools increased by 5% or more (BUS, SPS, GEO, MAT, CHE, HEA) 3 Schools decreased by 5% or more (ECA, VET, PHY)

20. Learning Resources % Agree - 2015 v 2014 Learning and Resources remained at the same level as the previous year (89%), but has increased from 83% since 2012 13 Schools increased, 4 Schools decreased and 4 School remained the same compared to the previous year Largest increase – SPS (+5%) Largest decrease – MAT (-6%) 1 School increased by 5% or more (SPS) 2 Schools decreased by 5% or more (LAW, MAT)

21. Personal Development % Agree - 2015 v 2014 Personal Development increased by 1% to 79% compared to the previous year, and has increased by 2% since 2012 12 Schools increased, 7 Schools decreased, 2 School remained the same compared to the previous year Largest increase – MAT (+14%) Largest decrease – BUS (-7%) 6 Schools increased by 5% or more (BMS, EDU, GEO, MAT, PPL, SPS) 3 Schools decreased by 5% or more (ECA, PHY, BUS)

22. Impact of School Satisfaction on Overall Satisfaction

23. The table to the right shows – Schools overall NSS approval rating for 2015 It's contribution to the sample How the overall rating has changed in relation to 2014 The effect that a 1% rise in the Schools overall score has on the institution wide score Effect the difference between 2015 and 2014 scores have had Details for each Primary Theme will be available of the Student Surveys Wiki in due course Impact of School Satisfaction Results on Institutional Overall Satisfaction rating

24. Russell Group, Scotland and Edinburgh comparison

25. Russell GroupScotland Edinburgh Russell Group, Scotland and Edinburgh comparison In comparison to the previous year, the University of Edinburgh has risen four places for Overall Satisfaction when compared to the Russell Group, four places when compared to Scottish universities, and one place when compared to Edinburgh based universities.

26. Notes and Definitions Primary Themes These are aggregated averages of the questions that fall under that area – the table to the right shows how these are compiled. Agree% The combined percentage of respondents answering 4 (mostly agree) or 5 (definitely agree). The percentage score is the percentage of all responses excluded those who responded N/A Changes of 5% Increases and decreases in of 5% or more have been detailed to advise where a notable increase has taken place