Dundee University Tops Student Experience Survey

Students at the University of Dundee officially have the best experience during their studies according to a freshly released survey. For the first time in five years, Loughborough University has been knocked off the top spot in the annual Times Higher Education (THE) Student Experience Survey, falling to second place.

The university ratings are based on the views of more than 14,000 undergraduate students in the UK. They were asked to rate their university in 21 different categories, including the quality of staff, structure of courses, social life and university facilities and student accommodation. These categories are then given different weightings depending on their importance to the overall student experience.

Dundee Fights Off Competition

Dundee rose to the top, from fifth position last year, after students praised the university's convenient facilities, cheap shops, excellent students' union and fair workload. The president of Dundee Students' Association, Iain Kennedy, explained:

"There are so many good things about being a student in Dundee. Almost all of the accommodation is either on campus or within a few minutes walk so there is a real 'student village' feel to the place, and at the same time we are right in the centre of a vibrant city."

The Scottish university had to fight off some strong competition, taking top spot by the narrowest of margins. Despite being knocked off the number one position, Loughborough was still rated first for its students' union, industry contacts and sports facilities. Equally, collegiate universities Oxford and Cambridge both excelled, with the former offering the best quality staff and lectures.

Struggling London Universities

At the other end of the scale, London universities suffered in the rankings- a common trend in recent years. Indeed, the highest ranked London university- UCL, is placed only 49th in the UK, and the bottom six universities are all based in London. Deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Westminster, Rikki Morgan-Tamosunas, attempted to explain this trend, claiming that students who choose a London institution often choose it for the London experience rather than the student experience:

"There is a London factor...[the city] is a real double-edged sword. On the one hand, the capital's institutions are in the middle of what is widely seen as one of the world's most exciting cities, with a huge amount to offer students. But on the other hand, many live at home in the Greater London area, which means long travel times and a culture of students coming to classes and then leaving, which makes it very difficult to develop a sense of community in the university".

Increasing Fees

This is the final survey before the introduction of the increased tuition fees in the next academic year, when student satisfaction becomes more important than ever. With the tripling of fees making it harder for universities to attract students, providing a top quality student experience is becoming a vital way of enticing them. THE editor John Gill said:

"Student expectations are rising in line with the increase in tuition fees this autumn, putting pressure on universities both to compete for students and to ensure that they are not disappointed with their experience once they arrive."

You can see the top ten universities that offer the best student experience below, or you can see the complete rankings table here.

Top 10 Universities for Student Experience

1. University of Dundee
2. Loughborough University 
3. University of Sheffield
4. University of Oxford
5. University of Cambridge
6. University of East Anglia
7. University of Southampton
8. Aberystwyth University
9. University of Glasgow
10. University of Leeds

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