Birkbeck students among the most satisfied in the capital
The latest National Student Survey results rank courses highly for intellectual stimulation and place the College in London’s top five universities for teaching quality for the fifth consecutive year.
In the 2019 National Student Survey (NSS) figures Birkbeck is once again in the top five London universities for the quality of its teaching. The College is also third in London for intellectually stimulating courses and top in London for the organisation and management of its courses and for effectively communicating change with students.
The NSS results also show strong subject-specific rankings for a number of subject areas and courses at Birkbeck.
History and Archaeology along with Historical and Philosophical studies were ranked top nationally for the intellectual stimulation provided by Birkbeck courses, as well as first in London and fourth nationally for their teaching.
Birkbeck was second highest in London for teaching satisfaction scores in Psychology, while Communications and Media were top in London for overall satisfaction, quality of teaching, and organisation and management.
Overall satisfaction with Birkbeck remains high, at 82%.
The College will continue to examine the feedback it receives from the NSS and the Birkbeck Student Surveys (which are open each year to students who are ineligible to complete the NSS). These results, together with the results of the Birkbeck Student Experience Review conducted in 2017, are being used to improve the student experience for those studying full-time and part-time, and at all levels of study.
Recent or ongoing changes in response to student feedback include the installation of new computer laboratories on the fourth floor of the main building on Torrington Square, as well as improvements to the library which will increase the number of study spaces, including areas for collaborative working, create a larger silent study space, improve teaching facilities for academic skills workshops and enable students to access more services in one place.
Professor Diane Houston, Birkbeck’s Pro Vice Master, Education, said: “I am pleased to see that Birkbeck has once again performed strongly across a number of subjects and measures in the National Student Survey. The results show that Birkbeck continues to be a leader in London for the quality of teaching.
“Our next steps are to look closely at the data and to make sure that we are taking steps that will have a positive impact on the experience of all our students.”
This year, 68% of final year undergraduate students at Birkbeck completed the NSS, which draws opinions on eight key areas of student life.