Student surveys

What is the SOT survey?

The start of term survey (SOT) aims to capture our students’ experiences of the beginning of the academic year, primarily focusing on student interaction with student services in the first few weeks of the semester.

When does it take place?

The SOT survey normally runs in October-November of each academic year.

Who is it for?

The SOT is for all students at the University from foundation degree level to postgraduate students.

What is the SOT survey about?

The survey consists of questions observing different aspects of student life at the University, including: student living, sport facilities, student support as well as initial reactions to starting university. To get a clear understanding of students’ perspective on University services, questions are designed to either use a scoring point system or require an open-ended qualitative response.

How do students take part?

Students are emailed directly with a link to complete the survey online.

What happens to the feedback?

The feedback from the surveys is collected and collated by the University’s Planning, Development and Change department. Students who provide their email address when completing survey are then informed via email of any changes that are to be implemented as result of the feedback obtained from the survey.

What is the MFQ?

The mid-module feedback questionnaire (MFQ) enables students the opportunity to express their feedback on all the modules they are studying.

When does it take place?

The questionnaire is completed half way through the module (usually week 4 or 5) so that students’ feedback is acted upon as quickly as possible, so that any changes that can be made are beneficial to the students directly. The MFQ takes place in semesters A, B and C.

Who is it for?

The MFQ is for all students studying a degree course at the University.

What is the MFQ about?

Taking part in the MFQ means students can review their own learning and approach to their module, discuss the results with the module tutors, and further impact how the module is run for future students.

What is the MFQ Staff Survey?

At the end of the module (usually week 11 or 12) students will be asked to give feedback on the individual tutor that taught their module.

How do students take part?

For each survey you will be asked to complete the questionnaires online via an email titled ‘Your Module Feedback Questionnaire’. The questionnaires consist of four core module questions followed by a comments box to provide additional feedback. There may be extra questions depending the module or course taken around dissertations or distance learning etc.

What happens to the feedback?

The feedback from the questionnaires is administered by Academic Registry/ Academic Surveys. The results are then published to each relevant module page on Studynet.

What is the NSS?

The NSS is one of the most significant surveys students will be asked to take at university. It is for all final year undergraduate students at higher education institutions in the UK.

The NSS aims to gain a realistic view of the overall student experience, rather than focusing on individual modules (see MFQs) or specific services (see SOT). The results from the survey can influence how institutions deliver their overall learning experiences in the future for current and prospective students.

The NSS is an authoritatively recognised survey and results are shown on the Unistats website. These can be viewed by prospective students when choosing to apply for courses at university. The NSS contributes to mapping the quality of higher education in the UK from student perspectives.

The NSS is commissioned by the Office of Students (OFC) and is undertaken independently by Ipsos Mori.

When does it take place?

The survey takes place annually in Semester B, roughly at the end of January/ start of February through to the end of April.

Who is it for?

The NSS is for final year undergraduate students at the University or at one of the Hertfordshire Higher Education Consortium colleges.

What is the NSS about?

The survey is made up of 27 core questions relating to eight aspects of the student experience as well as additional questions provided by the institution.

NSS Core questions focus on:

• Teaching on my course
• Learning opportunities
• Assessment and feedback
• Academic support
• Organisation and management
• Learning resources
• Learning community
• Student voice
• Overall Satisfaction

The survey is designed to allow students to answer multiple choice questions as well as provide comments in open-ended questions. All responses are anonymous.

How do students take part?

Students who are entitled to take part are invited to do so by an email (mostly) or telephone request from Ipsos Mori.

What happens to the feedback?

The results from the NSS are published in August. The feedback data is also evaluated by the University and the Students’ Union to address how the student experience can be further improved.

More information about the National Student Survey: http://www.thestudentsurvey.com/

What is the PRES?

The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) is the only UK higher education sector-wide survey to gain insight from postgraduate research students about their learning and supervision experience.

When does it take place?

The survey takes place every other year (the last one was 2019) usually from mid-March to mid May.

Who is it for?

All postgraduate research degree students.

What is the PRES about?

The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) gets feedback about the experience of any research student on any doctoral or research master's course.

PRES has been developed in consultation with the sector and has been robustly tested across many disciplines, in several institutions and with students to ensure it produces valid results.

The survey focuses on students' experiences of:

• supervision
• resources
• research community
• progress and assessment
• skills and professional development

It also considers students' motivations for taking their programme.

How do students take part?

They are sent an email with a link to the survey.

What happens to the feedback?

Results are collated by the HEA and sent back to Herts. We look at each area and produce action plans for each School with a view to enhancing experience in each of the areas measured as well as sustaining good practice.