First results National Student Survey 2024

The first results of the 2024 National Student Survey (NSE) have been published. The NSE is sent annually to all students in the Dutch higher education system. Of all students at the UG, 27% completed the questionnaire. This is equal to the response on a national level. The NSE consists of a general part, which is the same for all universities, and a flexible part, in which institutions can choose from a number of subjects. The results for the general part have been published today.

The general part of the NSE consists of questions concerning general satisfaction with the degree programme, examination and assessment, content and organisation, teachers, connection to professional practice, guidance/counselling, and engagement and contact. Questions are answered on a scale of 1-5. A score of 3.5 or higher is considered a pass. The UG passes on 46 out of 50 questions. Compared to last year, students are more satisfied with: their programme in general, examination and assessment, and the opportunities for and quality of guidance/counselling. The UG scores highest on engagement and contact with 3.88, which includes the question whether students feel safe to be themselves at their institution (4.27).

Comparison with national average

The UG scores lower than the national average on a few questions, although the difference is often only a few hundredths. Again the greatest challenge for the UG - and indeed for all universities - lies in the connection to professional practice/career: the UG scores an average of 3.20 on this theme (equal to last year). This is the lowest subject score for the UG and below the national average of 3.32. The UG scores better than the national average on, among other subjects: satisfaction with study facilities, examination and assessment, the content-based expertise of lecturers, the intelligibility of lecturers' explanations, and the quality of guidance/counselling.

Rector magnificus Jacquelien Scherpen: 'We achieved great results. This year, students are more satisfied with, among other things, study guidance and testing and assessment. But there is also work to be done, especially in the area of study content and design. We will do our best to improve this in the coming year.’

How will the results be used?

The NSE results will be used to signal and monitor points for improvement. The results will also be discussed in consultations held with students, including in the faculty councils and the University Council. In this way, the results will contribute to improving teaching at the UG. A more detailed report of the NSE results - including the results from the flexible part of the survey - will be shared with the faculties and the University Council.

View NSE scores

• This Factsheet (PDF) contains the NSE 2024 results for the UG.
• Scores by course level can be viewed from 28 May 2024 onwards on the NSE website of the organizer Landelijk Centrum Studiekeuze.