Skip to content Accessibility statement

University of York performs well in National Student Survey

News

Posted on Friday 11 August 2023

The University of York has performed strongly in this year’s National Student Survey - featuring in the top 10 across multiple categories among Russell Group universities.
York came 2nd in the Russell Group of research-intensive universities when students were asked how free did they feel to express their ideas, opinions, and beliefs.

The University was placed 5th in the Russell Group for Learning Resources, 6th for Academic Support and 6th for Organisation & Management. 

Opinions

Ten subjects featured in the top three in the Russell Group for Academic Support, while a further 11 were placed in the top three for Teaching On My Course.

York also came 2nd in the Russell Group of research-intensive universities when students were asked how free did they feel to express their ideas, opinions, and beliefs.

Feedback

The survey asked students questions about a range of factors related to their academic experience, including the teaching on their course, assessment and feedback, and how well courses are organised.

The survey – one of the largest of its kind in the world, with over 339,000 responses across the UK this year – asked students about mental wellbeing services and, in England, freedom of expression for the first time as part of a wider review.

Wellbeing

Professor Tracy Lightfoot, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Teaching, Learning and Students, said: “These results highlight the collective efforts of all our staff in responding to the teaching, learning and wellbeing needs of our students, helping to deliver the very best academic experience possible. 

“They also reflect the work of all of our professional services colleagues who support the education and welfare of our students in so many ways - from technicians and student support staff in academic departments, to our security staff and cleaners who perform valuable roles in ensuring student welfare.”

“All of this positions York as a university that rightly deserves its reputation for an excellent student experience.”

Further information

The following questions were asked:

  • Learning Resources - How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning? How well have the library resources supported your learning? How easy is it to access subject specific resources (e.g. equipment, facilities, software) when you need them?
  • Academic Support - How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to? How well have teaching staff supported your learning?
  • Organisation & Management - How well organised is your course? How well were any changes to teaching on your course communicated?
  • Teaching On My Course - How good are teaching staff at explaining things? How often do teaching staff make the subject engaging? How often is the course intellectually stimulating? How often does your course challenge you to achieve your best work?

Further info: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/student-information-and-data/national-student-survey-nss/

Explore more news

News

23 March 2026

The future of autonomous travel – from driverless cars to planetary rovers – may lie in decoding the secrets of how seabirds navigate.

News

18 March 2026

Democracy may be far older and more widespread than previously thought, according to a new study of ancient civilisations.

News

16 March 2026

The University of York has joined forces with the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and business leaders to launch a £20 million Government bid to supercharge the regional economy.

News

13 March 2026

The University of York will lead a major £8m initiative to train at least 80 industry-ready nuclear scientists, serving as a key part of a national drive to quadruple the number of nuclear specialists in the UK.

News

10 March 2026

In a challenge that will require spirit, stamina and a touch of Northern grit, two University leaders are walking 125 miles to tackle one of the region’s most pressing issues: the growing gap in educational attainment.

Read more news