University of York sees student satisfaction rise in National Student Survey 2026

Posted on Thursday 9 July 2026

The University has seen widespread increases in student satisfaction across the majority of its core institutional feedback themes in the annual survey, which asks final-year undergraduates a range of questions about their academic experience.

Key categories

York recorded improvements in six of the survey’s seven core areas: Teaching On My Course (88.1% up 1.0), Learning Opportunities  (82.4% up 1.7), Assessment and Feedback (75.0% up 2.4), Academic Support (91.2% up 1.3), Organisation and Management (82.1% up 4.2) and Student Voice (79.0% up 5.3).

The University also improved its national sector ranking in four key categories: Learning Opportunities, Academic Support, Organisation and Management, and Student Voice. 

Engagement with the survey was high this year. York’s institutional response rate rose to nearly 76%, marking a consecutive year-on-year increase and placing the University more than four percentage points above the national average.

Exceptional performances

The results also highlight exceptional performances within individual departments. York maintained its strong national standings in healthcare and media disciplines, including adult and children’s nursing, medicine, and media studies. It also secured notable year-on-year score improvements in social policy and social work, and economics.

The survey is used by universities to continually improve the student experience and to help prospective students make informed choices about higher education.

Hard work

Professor Tracy Lightfoot, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Teaching, Learning and Students, said: “These are incredibly heartening results and it is really pleasing that we've increased student satisfaction across six out of seven student experience themes this year, and seen some great individual department scores. 

“It is fantastic to see our collective efforts bearing fruit, particularly in areas like Student Voice and Academic Support.

“The NSS gives us vital insight directly from our students and these rising scores are a testament to the hard work of our staff and student partners.

“We know we still have work to do, particularly as we continue to refine our assessment and feedback, but the data shows we are moving firmly in the right direction to provide an outstanding, welcoming and inclusive learning environment.”