Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey: PTES
For postgraduate taught students around the world.
About PTES
This year PTES runs from Monday 5th Feb until Thursday 13th June 2024.
The annual PTES normally runs from February to June and asks postgraduate taught students in universities across the United Kingdom about their course and their learning experience. PTES quantative results by Faculty, School, Programme Group and student characteristics can be found on the Power BI dashboard. PTES historical results are available on the Planning Office website.
What does it ask about?
The survey includes questions about how students chose their programme of study, and their experience of the programme and dissertation or project. It also asks about the whole student learning experience, including:
- teaching and learning
- engagement
- assessment and feedback, including supervisor support for dissertation (or major project)
- organisation and management
- skills development
- overall satisfaction and motivation for taking the programme
Who is eligible to take part?
Eligible students include all full-time and most part-time UK, EU, and international PGT students studying a programme of at least 60 credits, the greater part of which is at M level at all campuses; i.e., Newcastle, NU Medicine Malaysia and NU International Singapore, including eLearning students. The University excludes all first year part-time students from the PTES, except when they are on a programme that is one year part-time only (e.g., PG Certificates). It also excludes students who are studying a single module only; e.g., CPD and occasional students. The PTES population includes study abroad and exchange students.
How do students take part?
The survey must be completed online, using PCs or mobile devices. Eligible students will receive an email with a personalised link to complete the survey.
The survey can also be accessed via the link/QR code, participants are required to sign in to complete the survey.
What happens to the responses?
Student responses are anonymous and are collected by Advance HE. All the responses are aggregated to produce an overall national report, published on the Advanced HE website. The responses from students at each participating university also are aggregated into a confidential report for that institution. Our previous year’s PTES results are available on the Planning Office website.
The quantitative results are discussed at relevant Boards of Studies and Student-Staff Committees. Academic Units respond to feedback with action plans, identifying any agreed actions, timescales for implementation, and who is responsible for each action.
Why should I encourage my students to take part?
As well as the importance of providing feedback, taking part in the PTES is giving you an opportunity to win a prize! Every year shopping vouchers can be won (5x £100 and 10x £50), and a charity donation is chosen in collaboration with Newcastle University Students Union. In 2024, for every survey completed in the first three weeks of the survey running, £2 is donated to N.E.S.T and Rape Crisis.
Terms and Conditions apply for the prize draw.