National Student Survey shows strengths of English language, Iberian studies and linguistics at York

News

Posted on Friday 18 July 2025

The results of the 2025 National Student Survey have revealed the strengths of the Department of Language and Linguistic Science in every category.

English language

We placed 1st in the Russell Group for ‘learning resources’ among universities included for English language in the 2025 National Student Survey (NSS).

Q21. ‘How easy is it to access subject specific resources (e.g. equipment, facilities, software) when you need them?’ - we scored 88.6%
Q20. ‘How well have the library resources (e.g. books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?’ - we scored 97.2%
Q19. ‘How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning?’ - we scored 97.1%

Iberian studies

Among universities in the Russell Group included for Iberian studies in the 2025 National Student Survey (NSS), we placed 1st in the Russell Group for ‘teaching on my course’, ‘learning opportunities’, ‘organisation and management’, ‘student voice’ and =1st for ‘academic support’. We placed 3rd for ‘assessment and feedback’ and ‘learning resources’.

Teaching on my course

Q1. How good are teaching staff at explaining things? - we scored 100%
Q2. How often do teaching staff make the subject engaging? - we scored 100%
Q3. How often is the course intellectually stimulating? - we scored 100%
Q4. How often does your course challenge you to achieve your best work? - we scored 94.3%

Learning opportunities

Q6. How well does your course introduce subjects and skills in a way that builds on what you have already learned? - we scored 94.3%
Q5. To what extent have you had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth? - we scored 100%
Q7. To what extent have you had the chance to bring together information and ideas from different topics? - we scored 88.7%
Q8. To what extent does your course have the right balance of directed and independent study? - we scored 88.7%
Q9. How well has your course developed your knowledge and skills that you think you will need for your future? - we scored 100%

Organisation and management

Q17. How well organised is your course? - we scored 94.3%
Q18. How well were any changes to teaching on your course communicated? - we scored 100%

Student voice

Q22. ‘To what extent do you get the right opportunities to give feedback on your course?’ - we scored 83%
Q23. ‘To what extent are students' opinions about the course valued by staff?’ - we scored 94%
Q24. ‘How clear is it that students' feedback on the course is acted on?’ - we scored 76%

Academic support

Q15. ‘How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?’ - we scored 100%
Q16. ‘How well have teaching staff supported your learning?’ - we scored 100%

Assessment and feedback

Q13. How often have you received assessment feedback on time? - we scored 8.7%
Q12. How well have assessments allowed you to demonstrate what you have learned? - we scored 83%
Q11. How fair has the marking and assessment been on your course? - we scored 83%
Q14. How often does feedback help you to improve your work? - we scored 83%
Q10. How clear were the marking criteria used to assess your work? - we scored 83%

Learning resources

Q21. ‘How easy is it to access subject specific resources (e.g. equipment, facilities, software) when you need them?’ - we scored 94%
Q20. ‘How well have the library resources (e.g. books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?’ - we scored 94.3%
Q19. ‘How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning?’ - we scored 94%

Linguistics

We placed =1st in the Russell Group for ‘learning resources’ among universities included for linguistics in the 2025 National Student Survey (NSS).

Q21. ‘How easy is it to access subject specific resources (e.g. equipment, facilities, software) when you need them?’ - we scored 91.8%
Q20. ‘How well have the library resources (e.g. books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?’ - we scored 95.7%
Q19. ‘How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning?’ - we scored 95.1%

What is the National Student Survey?

The NSS is a nationwide survey of final-year students in higher and further education. They answer questions on a variety of aspects of their university experience, including their department and course.

Almost 2,800 York students responded to the 2025 survey, helping prospective applicants to compare courses and make informed decisions about where to study. The survey empowers those taking part to shape the future of their course, giving universities honest feedback on what they are doing well and where they can improve.