Dundee offers Scotland’s best student experience, says Times Higher Education survey
Published On Thu 15 May 2014 by Roddy Isles
The University of Dundee offers the best student experience in Scotland and is joint 4th in the UK, according to the latest Times Higher Education (THE) Student Experience Survey.
Dundee was rated first in the UK for good accommodation, centralized/convenient facilities and cheap shop/bar/amenities, and second for good students’ union. It scored in the UK top ten in another eight of the 21 categories.
“There is nothing more important to a University than the quality of the experience enjoyed by its’ students, so to come out top in Scotland and in the UK top five in a major survey like this is very encouraging,” said Professor Pete Downes, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dundee.
“It is a credit to all staff across the institution and also to the Students' Association, with whom we have a very good relationship and who work very hard to help deliver quality to students in all aspects of campus life.”
Iain MacKinnon, President of Dundee University Students’ Association, welcomed the top ranking as “fantastic news”.
“Dundee has performed consistently strongly in the Times Higher Education survey and this is another excellent result,” said Iain.
“We have worked very hard as a Students’ Association, alongside the University, to deliver the best possible experience to students here. That covers everything from students having a real voice in the University’s decision-making to having some of the best social activities of any institution.
“Dundee is a fantastic place to be a student. The University has invested a lot in facilities over the past few years and that has had a very positive impact on student life.”
The THE survey, now in its ninth year, is unique in that in looks beyond the usual definition of the student experience – comprised largely of teaching, learning, assessment and feedback – to a broader definition, one created by students themselves that includes those aspects of university life that matter most to them.
Dundee topped the survey in 2012 and has been consistently ranked in the top ten in the UK.
John Gill, editor of THE, said, “Universities are spending ever more time and money trying to get the ‘student experience’ right, as they face up to competition for students not just locally and nationally, but also internationally. Now in its ninth year, the 2014 Times Higher Education Student Experience polls student opinion on 21 aspects of university life and highlights the institutions that are getting certain things right.”
More than 14,000 full-time undergraduates were polled in this year's THE survey, which was conducted in conjunction with specialist youth market research agency Youthsight.
The full results of the survey will be published in THE on 15th May 2014. See www.timeshighereducation.co.uk for more information.
Roddy Isles
Head of Press
TEL: 01382 384910
MOBILE: 07800 581902
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk