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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Student satisfaction rate 'slips' | Student satisfaction rate 'slips' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| This year's final year students in England were marginally less happy with their university experience than last year's leavers, an annual survey shows. | This year's final year students in England were marginally less happy with their university experience than last year's leavers, an annual survey shows. |
| The National Student Survey shows 81% were mostly or definitely satisfied with the quality of their course, against 82% last year. | The National Student Survey shows 81% were mostly or definitely satisfied with the quality of their course, against 82% last year. |
| In Wales the rating was unchanged, 83%, and in Northern Ireland up one at 84%. | In Wales the rating was unchanged, 83%, and in Northern Ireland up one at 84%. |
| Twelve Scottish institutions also took part, achieving the highest overall score of 86%, the same as in 2008. | Twelve Scottish institutions also took part, achieving the highest overall score of 86%, the same as in 2008. |
| The National Union of Students noted that those leaving this year had been the first to pay "top-up" tuition fees. | The National Union of Students noted that those leaving this year had been the first to pay "top-up" tuition fees. |
| Response rate down | |
| NUS president Wes Streeting said: "Tuition fees in England were trebled in 2006, but students have not seen a demonstrable improvement in the quality of their experience. | NUS president Wes Streeting said: "Tuition fees in England were trebled in 2006, but students have not seen a demonstrable improvement in the quality of their experience. |
| "Universities have a responsibility to deliver substantial improvements in return for the huge increase in income they are receiving from fees." | "Universities have a responsibility to deliver substantial improvements in return for the huge increase in income they are receiving from fees." |
| In Northern Ireland, where top-up fees began at the same time, three of the four higher education institutions saw improved ratings. That for Queen's went down. | In Northern Ireland, where top-up fees began at the same time, three of the four higher education institutions saw improved ratings. That for Queen's went down. |
| The survey results are compiled by England's higher education funding council. | The survey results are compiled by England's higher education funding council. |
| Detailed results for every institution will be published on the unistats.com website next month. | Detailed results for every institution will be published on the unistats.com website next month. |
| The funding council and university groups drew attention to the fact that a few thousand more students had participated in the survey. | |
| But there were more students in the system - and in fact the rate of participation fell from 65% in 2008 to 62%. | |
| A consultants' report on the 2008 survey process for Hefce noted that the response rates across the UK were regarded as high. | |
| "The average response rates for the NSS across the UK have been rising steadily from 56% at its introduction in 2005 to 65% in 2008," it said. | |
| Standards concerns | Standards concerns |
| England's Universities Minister David Lammy said the results showed that that the UK's higher education system was continuing to provide a "quality experience" for students. | England's Universities Minister David Lammy said the results showed that that the UK's higher education system was continuing to provide a "quality experience" for students. |
| The chief executive of the vice-chancellors' organisation Universities UK, Diana Warwick, said: "We're pleased that so many students continue to rate their higher education experience so highly. | The chief executive of the vice-chancellors' organisation Universities UK, Diana Warwick, said: "We're pleased that so many students continue to rate their higher education experience so highly. |
| "It is particularly reassuring that, at a time of economic uncertainty when students may be understandably anxious about their job prospects (as new graduates), nevertheless the overall satisfaction rate remains over 80%." | "It is particularly reassuring that, at a time of economic uncertainty when students may be understandably anxious about their job prospects (as new graduates), nevertheless the overall satisfaction rate remains over 80%." |
| She said universities would be taking action and making improvements in response to what their students were telling them. | She said universities would be taking action and making improvements in response to what their students were telling them. |
| Shadow Minister for Higher Education John Hayes said: "Students are paying much more in fees but they are not more satisfied with their courses - these results suggest student satisfaction is actually deteriorating." | Shadow Minister for Higher Education John Hayes said: "Students are paying much more in fees but they are not more satisfied with their courses - these results suggest student satisfaction is actually deteriorating." |
| He added: "If we are going to face up to the big challenges on standards, the student experience and widening access, we need a full review of the tuition fees system as soon as possible." | He added: "If we are going to face up to the big challenges on standards, the student experience and widening access, we need a full review of the tuition fees system as soon as possible." |
| The annual student survey has been published just after a critical report on higher education in England by a Commons select committee. | The annual student survey has been published just after a critical report on higher education in England by a Commons select committee. |
| This said, universities were failing to safeguard degree standards and the current system for ensuring quality was "out of date and should be replaced". | This said, universities were failing to safeguard degree standards and the current system for ensuring quality was "out of date and should be replaced". |
| "Inconsistency in standards is rife," said the committee chairman, Phil Willis. | "Inconsistency in standards is rife," said the committee chairman, Phil Willis. |
| Individual ratings | |
| Notably the University of Oxford fell out of the published lists in 2009 because its response rate was below the 50% threshold. | |
| Topping the overall satisfaction table was Medway School of Pharmacy, on 97%, with Brighton and Sussex Medical School on 95% and the Open University on 94%. | |
| The private University of Buckingham achieved 92% while of the big mainstream universities, St Andrews achieved 92% and Cambridge and Leicester each had 91%. | |
| Among the risers was the University of York, up four percentage points in overall satisfaction to 89%. | |
| Among the bigger fallers was Middlesex University, down six points at 69%, and the University of Essex, down five at 80%. | |
| At the lower end of the table were a number of new universities, with financially troubled London Metropolitan University had an overall score of 68%. | |
| Only the University for the Creative Arts and University of the Arts London came lower, on 64% and 63% respectively. |