Student Voice

Stage Evaluations – these surveys are open to both UG and PGT students in Semester 1 and 2. The survey gathers feedback on your programme and your university experience more widely.

NSS – the National Student Survey is an annual survey for all UG students in their final year of study. This survey will ask about the quality of your course, your academic experience while at Newcastle and give you the opportunity to feed back about your learning experience as a whole. The results of this survey help us to identify where student experience can be improved and work across the University to make positive changes based of your response.

PTES/PRES – if you are a PGT or PGR student you will be invited to complete either the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey or Postgraduate Research Experience Survey. Both of these are annual surveys open to most PGT/PGR students to share your views on your course and learning experience. The responses to this survey will help shape and improve postgraduate courses going forward.

In Semester 1 and 2 you will be asked to give informal feedback on your modules. Depending on your School, these will be done in different ways and can range from polls in a lecture to focus groups. Your feedback will allow your module leaders to act quickly.

Every year, various Student Voice Forums are organised by the Students’ Union and the University. These bring together staff and students to discuss innovative Student Voice work happening across the University and opportunities for change.

Many Student Voice activities are run by or in collaboration with your Students’ Union. For example, you will have a course and school rep who regularly represents you at Staff Student Committees (SSC’s) with key staff from your school. More information on how the rep system works, who you are represented by and how you can get involved can be found on your Students’ Union website.

Taking part in surveys/student voice activities means you can:

• Make and see positive change
• Shape your learning experience
• Meet fellow students
• Win competitions/get rewards
• Have your voice heard
• Learn new skills through participating in the school or course rep system
• Contribute to charity donations for some surveys

Each of the surveys ask questions relevant to the type of student you are (e.g. UG, PGT, PGR). They will focus on key topics such as assessment & feedback, teaching on your course, student services/support and organisation of your course.

Your responses are treated confidentially and only the Educational Policy and Governance Team within the University (the team dealing with surveys) can see individual responses. Only anonymised data is shared with Schools/programmes and any other teams within the University. Please refer to the University’s Student Privacy Notice for more information.

Please take care to not identify yourself or someone else when completing the survey.

Your Schools, Degree Programme Directors (DPDs), reps, Students’ Union and other staff will share details on how to take part in the above as they open. You will also receive information from Student Surveys directly to your inbox on how you can get involved in surveys as they open, within plenty of time to get involved – keep an eye on your Canvas and the University app too! See the ‘get in touch’ section below for contacts on wider student voice activity.

There may be occasions during your studies when things may not work out quite as you would wish or something may go wrong. We are very receptive to resolving any issues you may experience. Providing feedback on your studies is different to seeking support/raising a concern/making a formal complaint. Support is available to help you do this. Follow this link for further information.