Final year undergraduates are asked to rate their experience at Imperial as the 2023 National Student Survey opens for responses.

The Survey, which is open until 30 April 2023, invites students to assess the College on areas such as academic support, learning resources and assessment and feedback.

Acting on feedback

Professor Peter Haynes, Interim Vice-Provost (Education and Student Experience), said:

"I encourage all final year students to complete the National Student Survey. It is an extremely important barometer for the College of the things that we are getting right, but also where we can improve, and we take the results very seriously.

“Imperial's academic strategy prioritises the student experience: we want all of our students to enjoy a rich and vibrant experience from their first contact with the College to beyond their graduation, ensuring that every individual has the opportunities to thrive.

“Belonging to an inclusive community means feeling confident and supported in all aspects of your day-to-day interactions with the people and spaces around you. Students should feel positive and empowered whether they are entering their department in the morning, having a breakout study session with a peer over lunch, attending an inspiring lecture in the afternoon, or socialising, studying, or using sports facilities in the evening. These should all be experiences which feel tailored to their needs, and where choice and control are offered wherever possible.

"Important topics such as assessment and feedback, our shared values, and technology's role in the future of education, all reflect wider debates that rely on having the right spaces, the best services, and the most effective approach to teaching and research in place."

Some actions the College has taken in response to previous surveys include:

• Setting up an NSS task and finish group to address the recommendations provided by the Imperial College Union. Improvements are developed in collaboration with students, with assessment and feedback a core priority.
• Inviting a greater number of students to join as members of a range of College committees, informing important decisions reflecting the student experience. Union student leaders co-chair the College’s Student Experience Forum and the recently established Cost-of-Living Working Group.
• From cafes, to lecture theatres, to study spaces, the College has continued to work closely with students to significantly improve a wide variety of spaces across our campuses. Student and staff contributions feature in an Imperial Story spotlighting some of the big improvements delivered in recent times.

Reflecting the student perspective

Jason Zheng, Deputy-President (Education) at the Imperial College Union said:

"Student representation at all levels of the College has markedly improved. We are now in the room when cost of living, student discipline, education policy, and many other topics are discussed.

"However, there is still room for more progress, and by challenging the College when necessary and partnering with it at other times, we can bring about further improvements in the areas we all value so much.

"Our particular focus in the past year has been lobbying for improvements to assessment and feedback, student mental health provision, as well as shorter turnaround times for academic appeals."

Have your say

Eligible students can complete the survey on the NSS website from 11 January until 30 April 2023.