The National Student Survey (NSS) gives students the chance to provide feedback on their time at UCFB. The survey enables students to give honest, anonymous opinion on where and what they study, thereby helping future students to make the right choice about their own higher education.

The feedback provided to the NSS also helps UCFB and its Students’ Union to shape the student experience going forward for current and future students.

The survey runs until 30th April, and takes just five minutes to complete.

Click here to complete The National Students Survey

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The NSS questions

You’ll be asked the following questions and asked to rank each statement from one to five, ranging from ‘definitely agree’ to 'definitely disagree’. When completing the survey, we encourage you to remember your whole time at UCFB to give the most accurate account possible.

The teaching on my course
  • Staff are good at explaining things;
  • Staff have made the subject interesting;
  • The course is intellectually stimulating;
  • My course has challenged me to achieve my best work.
Learning opportunities
  • My course has provided me with opportunities to explore ideas or concepts in depth;
  • My course has provided me with opportunities to bring information and ideas together from different topics;
  • My course has provided me with opportunities to apply what I have learnt.
Assessment and feedback
  • The criteria used in marking have been clear in advance;
  • Marking and assessment has been fair;
  • Feedback on my work has been timely;
  • I have received helpful comments on my work.
Academic support
  • I have been able to contact staff when I needed to;
  • I have received sufficient advice and guidance in relation to my course;
  • Good advice was available when I needed to make study choices on my course.
Organisation and management
  • The course is well organised and is running smoothly;
  • The timetable works efficiently for me;
  • Any changes in the course or teaching have been communicated effectively.
Learning resources
  • The IT resources and facilities provided have supported my learning well;
  • The library resources (e.g. books, online services and learning spaces) have supported my learning well;
  • I have been able to access course-specific resources (e.g. equipment, facilities, software, collections) when I needed to.
Learning community
  • I feel part of a community of staff and students;
  • I have had the right opportunities to work with other students as part of my course.
Student voice
  • I have had the right opportunities to provide feedback on my course;
  • Staff value students’ views and opinions about the course;
  • It is clear how students’ feedback on the course has been acted on;
  • The students’ union (association or guild) effectively represents students’ academic interests.
Overall satisfaction
  • Overall, I am satisfied with the quality of the course.

We've listened to your feedback

Not only does the NSS allow students the chance to give honest feedback on their higher education experience, it allows UCFB to continue to improve its services, facilities and experiences for current and future students.

Clearer and more focused communication

• Use of Cedar as a one stop shop for timetable information

• Vital information communicated through the UCFB Online Hub app

• Timetables published earlier

• Launched Employability & Enrichment Hub

Employability & Enrichment

• We provided more female guest speakers than ever before, including a Women in Sport Conference;


• We provided a bespoke time management webinar to assist with time management;


• Every Employability & Enrichment session was made available online via the Jobteaser portal;


• We increased the number of certified courses, including Sports Nutrition, Digital Marketing and Talent Development.

Student Services

• We opened new SU accounts on Twitter and Instagram, streamlined the Student Services accounts and created a Media Officer role within the SU Executive Team at both campuses;


• We facilitated more cross-campus collaboration through a SU Executive Team WhatsApp group;
• We developed a communications calendar for awareness days and campaigns;


• We organised a second set of sports trials for Semester 2 to maximise the opportunities for all students to get involved in the UCFB teams;


• We expanded the range of virtual student experience events and activities to allow all students to get involved and socialise with each other, including virtual escape rooms, quizzes and FIFA leagues;
• We worked with partners to change the Women’s Football Academy training site from The Hive to Silver Jubilee Park to reduce travel costs;


• We explored extra training times for our Athletic Union sports teams at Silver Jubilee Park and the National Speedway Stadium to increase student sports activity;


• We produced a local city guide for each campus to help international students settle into their surroundings.

Additional opportunities to go on trips

• Launch of the UCFB Global Study Hubs in New York, Atlanta, Toronto and Melbourne

• Trips to the likes of Qatar, Spain and the USA

Academic Delivery

• We have worked hard with our venue partners and within government guidelines to ensure that as many of our classes as possible will be available to study on campus in a COVID-secure environment. This ensures that you have the opportunity to experience our iconic campus locations;


• All academic content has been available online throughout the 2020/21 academic year to ensure that you do not miss out on your academic delivery;


• We arranged trips and visits where possible, including a BSc (Hons) Sports Psychology trip to Lillehammer in Norway, a BA (Hons) Sports Business & Sports Law work experience opportunity at Harvard Law School in Massachusetts, USA, and various other workshops and certified courses in the UK;


• We increased the number of programme-specific guest speakers, including Peter Couhig – Financial Consultant at Wycombe Wanderers, Jerome Hiquet – Marketing Manager at Formula E, Edu Rubio – First Team Coach at Crawley Town, and Craig Harris – Sports Law Barrister;


• We provided academic support through a range of on-campus and virtual channels.

Increased student voice

• Opportunities to meet with Programme Leaders and other one-to-one sessions

• Students’ Union Executive Committee included in the membership of Student Experience Working Group and invited to weekly meetings

• Key events in Season Ticket offering organised by Students’ Union Executive Committee rather than Student Services staff. Events are organised by students based on feedback from the wider student body

• Cross campus SU working to ensure a uniformed approach to student voice and student experience

Library Services

• We extended our library opening hours ahead of the dissertation deadline;


• Additional content relating to library skills guidance to aid self-directed learning was uploaded to the Online Hub Library pages, including our Library Club, interactive quizzes and the opportunity to book one-to-one tutorials with our Library Team.


• Virtual one-to-ones have been made available and promoted throughout the 2020/21 academic year to ensure you have access to our support remotely;


• Additional electronic library resources have been provided, including additional Kortext e-books.

Overseas work placement opportunities

• Launch of partnership with United Soccer League

• Numerous summer placements in the USA

Increased Student Experience activities

• More student coaching opportunities to coach Athletic Union sports teams. All coaches provided with matching UCFB tracksuits

• New sports teams, training and recreational opportunities added

• Look After Your Mate workshops introduced at both UCFB campuses

• Female and international student specific networking lunches organised in semester one

Increased visibility of Student Services staff

• All Student Services staff issued with branded work wear to increase visibility

• Drop in sessions utilised at all teaching venues across both campuses and accommodation partners

New kit partners to offer better value to students

• Cheaper UCFB branded items and kit bundles available to all students through Pro:Direct kit partnership

• Further Pro:Direct 15% discount code advertised to students via email