Student Surveys

Our survey method ensures that every student has the opportunity to provide feedback on key aspects of their experience while minimizing survey fatigue by limiting surveys to once per year. Consequently, any other large-scale surveys—such as those targeting all students at a specific stage of study, students involved in particular experiences like placements or study abroad, or students across multiple academic units—must receive approval from the Chair of the Student Experience and Wellbeing Sub-Committee/Academic Registrar before distribution.

Proposals for large-scale surveys will need to take into account the following

• No institution-wide survey can take place at the same time as any of our annual student surveys.
• Proposals will need to demonstrate that: There are no alternative ways of obtaining the feedback (e.g., focus groups, student staff committees, exit polls from specific events, online interviews)
• Where surveys are being considered at a more local level – for example within an academic unit – colleagues should ensure that the proposal meets the same requirements listed above. These cannot take place at the same time as the annual survey for the identified cohort of students (e.g., no local-level survey of final year undergraduates during the promotion period of the National Student Survey)
• It is not duplicating questions/topics from existing surveys
• It is not asking for information which could be gained from other sources e.g., analysis of Canvas data
• That there is a plan for how the responses will be analysed, how the results will be used and shared, what governance channels the results will be reported through and how the student body will be informed of changes implemented in response to the survey’s findings.