York tops the Russell Group for academic support
Posted on 6 July 2022
It is the sixth year in a row that York has claimed the top spot.
With almost 325,000 final-year students taking part in the UK this year, the independent survey is an important indicator of how students rate their time at university.
The University is ranked seventh in the Russell Group for overall satisfaction, with 80%, up from last year's 78%, and above the national average of 76%.
York also ranked first in the Russell Group in eight subject areas for overall satisfaction: Biology, Biosciences, French, Genetics, Law, Mental Health Nursing, Marketing and Philosophy. Five subject areas ranked second - Forensic and Archaeological Sciences, Music, Natural Sciences, Physical Geographical Sciences and Psychology - and two ranked third: English Language and Environmental Sciences.
We are also delighted to see improvements in the scores for organisation and management, learning resources and learning community.
Professor Tracy Lightfoot, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Teaching, Learning and Students, said: “This year’s results show that we continue to offer excellent teaching, learning and student support here at York.
“Our staff worked extremely hard to provide a supportive and rewarding student experience during the pandemic and to return to fully in-person teaching as soon as lockdown restrictions were lifted. This has been reflected in the scores for many of the subject areas.
“Our tailored approach to teaching and learning has been well received by many of our students, and we have continued to invest in the wider student experience, committing extra resources to our mental health support, financial assistance and our sporting and social activities.
“Our students have shown such remarkable resilience and patience during the pandemic, with much of their time at University affected by lockdowns and other restrictions on student life. As we have returned to in-person teaching, we are aware of the long-term effects on student wellbeing and mental health in particular. We will continue to listen to student feedback to develop and evolve how we support our community of learners.”
The survey asks final-year students about a range of factors related to their academic experience, including teaching, assessment and feedback, and their community. The results are used by the University and Students’ Union to support further improvements in teaching and learning.
Detailed results of the survey results can be found on the Office for Students website.