Russell Group response to NSS results

15 July 2021

In response to the results from this year’s National Student Survey (NSS) published today (15 July 2021), Dr Hollie Chandler, Head of Policy (Higher Education) at the Russell Group, said:

"Students have responded brilliantly to the challenges created by Covid, including the limitations it placed on in-person teaching. We are pleased to see that despite these challenges, the NSS has shown the majority of students were satisfied with the quality of their course this year.

"Staff at Russell Group universities have worked hard to support students and provide high-quality online teaching and blended learning. Our universities also increased their investment in wider support for students – with additional financial support packages available for students facing hardship, and developing new ways to provide counselling, mentoring and mental health services to make these even more accessible.

"We are now looking ahead to the new academic year and welcoming students back on campus. While our members are rightly planning for a range of scenarios, they are prioritising interactive teaching, and are preparing for most seminars, small group classes and lab work to be taught in-person. An element of online learning, which was also an important feature of university courses pre-pandemic, will continue – both to enhance learning and also to provide the flexibility to respond to public health measures or local outbreaks where necessary while minimising disruption."