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University students are to be asked about the mental wellbeing services they can access as part of a series of changes to the annual National Student Survey (NSS).
The change is part of a wider shake up designed to ensure the survey continues to provide high-quality information about students’ perceptions of their academic experience and to gauge the quality of their university education. The survey covers the whole of the UK and last year reported the responses of over 300,000 students.
In addition to the new question on mental wellbeing services other changes are being introduced to assist respondents in interpreting and understanding the questions in the survey. From 2024-25 the survey period will be shortened in order to align it with other data collection exercises in higher education.
The changes have been made following extensive consultation with students and their representative as well as higher education institutions from across the UK.
James Dunphy, Director of Access, Learning and Outcomes at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“We are committed to ensuring students can influence their educational experience by having their voice heard and valued.
“The National Student Survey is one of the ways we can tune into that student voice. It is really important that the survey continues to evolve and remain relevant to students, universities and others with an interest in tertiary education.”
