National Student Survey 2022

Posted on 8 July 2022

We’re delighted to have some of the happiest Biology students in the UK.

The Department of Biology has placed 1st out of the Russell Group universities included for 'Overall Satisfaction' for the subjects of biosciences, biology and genetics in the 2022 National Student Survey (NSS). We received 90% for 'Overall Satisfaction' in biology, 92% in genetics and 94% in biosciences.

The NSS is a nationwide survey of final-year students in higher and further education that encourages them to give honest feedback about a variety of aspects of their university experience, including their department and course. This helps prospective students to make informed choices and also influences real change in future students’ experiences, from institution-level to course-level.

Within the Russell Group, all three subjects were 1st for ‘academic support’. They placed highly in the following assessed areas.

Biosciences:

Teaching on my course (1st)
Learning opportunities (1st)
Assessment and feedback (2nd)
Academic support (1st)
Organisation and Management (2nd)
Learning Resources (1st)
Learning Community (1st)
Student voice (1st)
Overall satisfaction (1st)

Biology:

Teaching on my course (3rd)
Academic support (1st)
Organisation and management (3rd)
Learning resources (2nd)
Student voice (1st)
Overall satisfaction (1st)

Genetics:

Teaching on my course (3rd)
Academic support (1st)
Organisation and management (1st)
Learning community (1st)
Overall satisfaction (1st)

Professor James Moir, Head of Department

“I’m absolutely delighted about this outcome. We aim to provide excellent education and student support and so it is really gratifying to be placed top in the Russell group in the NSS. Students have had a hard time over the last couple of years, through the pandemic, and I’m so pleased we’ve been able to help them to have a great University experience, under such difficult circumstances.”

York's overall position

The University as a whole is 7th in the Russell Group for ‘Overall Satisfaction’ with a score of 80%, up from last year's 78% and above the national average of 76%. For the sixth year running, the survey placed York in the top spot for academic support in the Russell Group. Nine subjects achieved overall satisfaction scores of 90% or higher: biology, biosciences, French, genetics, marketing, natural sciences, philosophy, physical geographical sciences and psychology.

Find out more about York’s excellent NSS results.