Exceptional NSS Results for Psychology

10 August 2016

Aberystwyth University’s Psychology Department scored an impressive 93% for overall satisfaction in the 2016 National Student Survey (NSS).

In addition, the Department’s undergraduate degree course in Psychology earned a 95% overall satisfaction score in the annual survey.

The Department’s scores are part of a wider success story at Aberystwyth University which is rated the best in Wales and one of the top ten higher education institutions in the UK for overall student satisfaction in this year’s NSS.

The results show that overall satisfaction amongst students at Aberystwyth University stands at 92% - that’s six percentage points higher than the UK figure of 86%.

Dr Nigel Holt, Head of Psychology at Aberystwyth University, said: “I've always been proud of the way staff and students work together in Psychology to make this the friendly, welcoming, hardworking and focussed department it is. It's particularly gratifying for all of us, students and staff, to see this reflected so very clearly in the NSS results. It really highlights how the department is working as a strong community with a collegiate and supportive approach to learning.”

“The overall satisfaction of 93% this year is just excellent to see, but I'm also proud to see how our efforts to enhance ways of commenting on students’ work to help them learn and develop their work and the support that all staff, administrative, technical and academic, give students is over 80%.”

“It is a great credit to the support team that organisation and management are so very well recognised in these figures, as is the very hard work of those responsible for developing and ensuring world-class facilities and resources. It's really clear from these data that across the board students and staff are working closely together to make psychology a fine place to be - a community, a place where students can find out what their interests are with expert, generous and welcoming guidance.” 

The National Student Survey (NSS) collects data from 155 of the UK’s Higher Education Institutions and is recognised as an influential source of information for prospective students when considering their options.

If you’re interested in studying at Aberystwyth University’s Psychology Department and finding out why our students are so satisfied with their courses, it’s not too late. We still have some clearing places left for the 2016-17 academic year or come along and visit us during one of our Open Days.

The NSS figures follow closely on the heels of the latest employability figures for UK universities which showed that 100% of Psychology degree graduates were in work or further study six months after leaving Aberystwyth University in 2015.

The National Student Survey is carried out annually by IPSOS Mori on behalf of all the UK’s higher education funding councils and other bodies, interviewing around 312,000 final year students in Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.