Newcastle University

Newcastle University has sustained high scores in this year’s National Student Survey (NSS), with students showing appreciation for lecturers’ skills and the overall quality of courses. The Business School reached a record 90% satisfaction for its Accounting degree, meeting the Vice Chancellor’s target set out in ‘Vision 2021’.

Final year Newcastle students have once again given lecturers excellent scores for their enthusiasm for teaching and their ability to explain, and are increasingly satisfied with how accessible and contactable their lecturers are.

• 91% felt that staff are good at explaining things
• 87% felt staff are enthusiastic about what they teach
• 88% are satisfied with being able to contact staff when they needed to
  

Professor Ella Ritchie, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) said: ‘Overall we are very pleased with the high level of satisfaction from our students… The results are especially rewarding in a time of continuing recession when graduates could be expected to be disheartened by the current situation, yet 16 subject areas representing all three faculties have scored in the 90 per cent+ range.’

Adding to the positive NSS results, the Business School’s own data reveals that, of recent graduates, 97 per cent of students who undertook placements received a 2.1 or above (over half received a first), a fantastic statistic proving that a placement really does benefit students in their final stage studies.
Hot on the heels of the NSS scores came the University’s highest-ever 12th place ranking in the Sunday Times University Rankings.

Welcoming the announcement, Vice- Chancellor Professor Chris Brink said: ‘Rising to twelfth highlights the success of our graduates in the job market and reflects positively on the relevant and transferable skills they have gained during their time at Newcastle.’