League table shows a rise in student satisfaction

​A rise in student satisfaction rates and spending on facilities are just two of the highlights of the University of Northampton’s showing in the Complete University Guide 2016 league table.

The league table, which was published on Monday 27 April, ranks 126 Higher Education Institutions in order, according to how well they have performed in 10 areas.

The University was ranked second overall for Facilities Spend, which demonstrates our commitment to maintaining and improving our current campuses ahead of our move to a new campus at Waterside in 2018.

There is also a rise in our Student Satisfaction rates, which are ranked 12th out of all the universities included the table.

The findings also show a rise in the amount we have spent on academic services, a rise in the percentage of graduates achieving a first or upper second class honours degree at the University, and an increase in the percentage of those who complete their course. There is also a slight rise in our entry standards.

Ten subjects offered by the University are ranked in the top ten for Student Satisfaction: Aural & Oral Sciences; Biological Sciences; Business & Management Studies; Complementary Medicine; Drama, Dance & Cinematics; English; Geography & Environmental Science; Hospitality, Leisure, Recreation & Tourism; Social Policy and Sociology.

Four subjects are in the top 20 for Graduate Prospects: Complementary Medicine, General Engineering, Nursing and Social Policy.

Complementary Medicine achieved the highest overall subject ranking after being placed 8th out of 14, while Art and Design was listed 33rd out of 80.

The league table is based on 10 measures: Student Satisfaction, Research Quality, Research Intensity, Entry Standards, Student/Staff Ratio, Spending on Academic Services, Spending on Student Facilities, Good Honours Degrees Achieved, Graduate Prospects and Completion.

The University of Northampton achieved an overall placing of 83.

Victor Agboola, President of the University of Northampton Students’ Union, said the results showed some positive and encouraging findings: “I’m delighted to see the results show an increase in our student satisfaction score, a score that is consistently above the sector average. A student’s University experience is so much more than just its physical spaces and at the University of Northampton we always seek to go that one step further to ensure the best possible time, whether that is a unique offer like free sports and societies for all students,  the comprehensive pastoral support offered through personal tutors and residential staff or the introduction of a new student staff committee which embeds partnership in course design.

“The results also show a marked increase in those receiving first and upper second class honours, or good honours, which is fantastic to see and reflective of the high quality of teaching and support offered by our academic departments and services, that is so often illustrated through these national surveys and so important to students in an increasingly competitive job market.”

For more details about the league table, visit The Complete University Guide website.