Student surveys: Reasons to celebrate

July has seen the release of the results of the National Student Survey and the Graduate Outcomes Survey. Both have revealed a strong performance from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Sheffield.

Materials Science and Engineering were number one in the Russell Group for student satisfaction in the 2020 National Student Survey of students studying Materials Technology degrees
Materials Science and Engineering were number one in the Russell Group for student satisfaction in the 2020 National Student Survey of students studying Materials Technology degrees

The National Student Survey asks students who are in the final year of their undergraduate studies - in this case, those that graduated this year - for their views on key aspects of their University experience including learning and teaching, assessments and feedback, academic support, learning resources and the Students’ Union.

The Graduate Outcomes Survey contacts graduates to find out what they are doing 15 months after graduation. Therefore, the people surveyed in the 2019-20 survey all graduated in the academic year 2017-18.

In the 2020 National Student Survey, the Department of Materials Science and Engineering received the following responses (in the category of Materials Technology providers):

  • 95% or respondents said that overall, they were satisfied with the course (1st in the Russell Group)
  • 92% said that they were satisfied with the teaching on the course (1st in the UK)
  • 90% said that they were satisfied with the academic support provided (1st in the UK)
  • 87% said that the course provided good learning opportunities (1st in the Russell Group)

Meanwhile, The Graduate Outcomes Survey showed that of the Materials Science and Engineering students that graduated in 2017/18 (who responded to the survey) 100% of our MEng graduates, and 89% of our BEng graduates were in graduate level employment or further study.

This strong performance  from the Department isn't unusual. In the NSS, we have averaged more than 93% overall satisfaction over  the past 4 years, and in the predecessor to the Graduate Outcomes Survey (Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey, which was carried out six months after graduation, and last performed in 2018), more than 96% of our graduates had found employment or were in further study over the last four years of the survey when it was carried out.

Further to this, our strength in providing our students with skills much sought after by industry is reflected in the fact that we are the number one ranked Russell Group Institution for Graduate Prospects in Materials Science and Engineering in The Times Good University Guide 2020.

Four students laughing while sat at a bench, outside the Students' Union

International Merit Scholarships

We offer a generous package of financial support for international students including 75 undergraduate scholarships worth £10,000 towards the annual tuition fee and 125 postgraduate taught scholarships worth £5,000 towards the tuition fee. Applications are now open for existing offer holders.