Postgraduate Students Rate Worcester Among Very Best in UK

2 women walking out of University of Worcester City Campus gates

In the AdvanceHE Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2021, Worcester is ranked 3rd amongst 88 UK Universities for overall satisfaction, while Worcester is ranked 7th out of 94 in the AdvanceHE Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) 2021. These surveys, which have run every year since 2009, are major annual independent surveys.

University of Worcester Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor David Green CBE DL, said: “It is marvellous to know that University of Worcester postgraduate students rate the quality of the teaching, support, expertise and facilities at Worcester so very highly. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of academic and professional staff who have done so much, particularly in this most unprecedented of years, to give our students the best possible experience.”

In the taught experience survey, which covers courses such as the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), the University was in the top 10 in the UK across all measures, including 2nd for Skills Development, 3rd for Engagement, 4th for Teaching, Organisation and Resources, and 6th for Support and Assessment. The survey revealed that an impressive 89 per cent of Worcester postgraduate taught students were satisfied with their overall experience, placing it 3rd in the UK.

Students were also positive about the University’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, with an 89 per cent satisfaction rating. Meanwhile, 85 per cent of students were satisfied with their experience of the University’s assessment and development of skills.

In the research experience survey, students were particularly positive about the University’s Progression, Support and Professional Development, where it ranked 1st, as well as its Supervision, which ranked 2nd. The University was also placed 4th for Resources and Responsibilities and 9th for Research Skills. The University was in the top quarter of institutions in eight out of the nine areas considered, with 86 per cent of postgraduate research students saying they were satisfied overall.

Both surveys were run by AdvanceHE, the independent national organisation for higher education teaching, leadership and equality. PTES is the leading survey of taught postgraduate students in the UK, gaining insight about the learning and teaching experience of more than 69,000 students. Taught postgraduate students from 88 institutions who were on a Master’s, Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma course, answered a number of questions.

The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES), analysed results from nearly 40,000 postgraduate students.  The survey is designed to explore research degree students’ experiences of their programme, and their professional development as a researcher. Students from 94 institutions, who were either on a doctoral or research master’s course, answered questions scoring their experience of everything from the suitability of and access to resources and specialist equipment, to the professional skills gained for their future career.

Worcester has been ranked in the top three UK universities for Quality Education for the last three years in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings and has one of the best employment rates in the UK, being in the top 10 for "Sustained employment with or without further study" in the most recent Longitudinal Educational Outcomes data, which looks at employment rates 1, 3 and 5 years after graduation.