Student satisfaction amongst the best in England

National Student Survey (NSS) results, released today, show Essex students are still some of the most satisfied in the country and we're ranked in the top 15 for overall student satisfaction for the seventh year running.

Essex, currently University of the Year, is 14th out of all English mainstream universities* with 87.1% of students saying they are satisfied with their course – 3.5% above the national average of 83.5%.

According to the NSS data, 100% of our drama and East 15 Acting School students expressed overall satisfaction with their courses.

We're also in the top 10 for overall student satisfaction in american studies; cinematics and photography - which includes art history and film studies; electronic engineering; imaginative writing; subjects allied to medicine which includes biomedical science; and politics.

We're also in the top 25% for overall satisfaction in biology, psychology and sociology with other subjects achieving 90% overall student satisfaction including accounting, finance, history, and sports science.

Our Students' Union was also ranked in the top 10 for effectively representing students’ academic interests out of all English mainstream universities*.

Still ambitious about the future

Professor Madeline Eacott, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Education, said: “I am delighted that the NSS has once again shown that our efforts to listen and respond to our students have paid off.

“Offering a transformational education is vital to Essex and so in recent years we’ve invested significantly in what we offer, including outstanding new teaching spaces, student accommodation and sport facilities.

“Just a few months ago we announced an ambitious plan for our future, creating 100 new academic and 50 new professional posts, the largest expansion of staff in our 55-year history. We know students want us to invest in staff - they are our most valuable asset - and this expansion will further enhance the educational experience that we offer.

“The NSS represents an important way for us to assess how well we are meeting students’ expectations, and I am pleased this result shows the value they place on an Essex education, particularly as it comes in the same year that we were awarded the highest accolade in higher education, the Times Higher Education University of the Year Award.”

Supporting student success

A record-breaking 5,386 students will graduate from Essex this year, each with their own unique story to tell.

Sitong Zong came to Essex hoping to train as a translator and is leaving with an MA Conference Interpreting and Translation, a Big Essex Gold Award, and valuable work experience as a translator at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Rasheedat Olarinoye is planning to build on the skills she picked up working as a senior advisor in the Students’ Union Advice Centre, and as a volunteer at Nightline and the Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative, to train for a postgraduate certificate as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner.

Joe Waters, who came to Essex having previously worked as an insurance broker, is leaving Essex with a BSc Biochemistry and a place at Bart’s University to study medicine. 

William Gurton  completed a placement year at the Surrey Human Performance Unit which opened his eyes to the possibility of being a researcher. He is now hoping to complete an MRes Exercise Physiology or transition straight to a PhD.

Sharon Nayamande learned a new language during her time at Essex and is leaving to join the JP Morgan global finance and business graduate programme

Our dual commitment to education and research

Essex is one of a handful of universities equally excelling in education and research, for which we have been nationally recognised on numerous occasions.

In 2017 we were awarded the highest rating of Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), we are ranked in the top 25 for research quality in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide and top five for social science research in the same guide.

For our students this means the research-led education they receive is of the highest quality, delivered by academics who are world leaders in their fields.

We’ve recently been named Top 40 for teaching excellence in the Times Higher Education Europe Teaching Rankings 2019.

Investing in our future

Our £12 million Innovation Centre, which opened last month, is designed to support our student entrepreneurs and bolster the region’s emerging science, technology and digital creative industries. It delivers flexible workspace and support for up to 50 enterprises.

* Non-specialist higher education institutions with a survey population of at least 500.