The National Student Survey (NSS) 2024 results have confirmed high levels of satisfaction with teaching and overall experience among students in the Department of Mathematics at Royal Holloway, University of London.

The latest NSS results position Mathematics in the top quartile – at fourteenth place out of 62 departments nationally * and reveal improved scores in every measure year on year.

Highly positive student feedback was recorded in a number of key questions in the survey, including:

98% say their course challenged them to achieve their best work

94% say staff are good at explaining things

94% say assessment feedback is timely

94% say the course introduces subjects and skills to build on learning effectively

96% say IT facilities and library resources supported their learning well.

Professor Iain Moffatt, Head of the Department of Mathematics commented,

“At Royal Holloway we truly care about our students. We get to know each student as an individual and strive to ensure everyone in our close mathematics community has an outstanding experience.

The annual National Student Survey (NSS) provides our final year students with the opportunity to share their learning experiences with future applicants and the wider world. We are delighted that through their NSS responses, our recent graduates have indicated that they have had an excellent time with us.

We look forward to continuing to work with our current and incoming students to support them and ensure they have first class experience studying mathematics at Royal Holloway.”

At institution level Royal Holloway also saw an increased positive response, with 81% average satisfaction, which is a larger improvement than seen across the sector.

The NSS is an important benchmark as it asks final year students to give their opinions covering themes directly relating to student experience from their time at the university. Questions are asked about the quality of teaching and support, learning resources and outcomes, assessment and feedback, university services and facilities, plus the impact of the student voice. The data is collected anonymously, allowing students to give honest answers, and results are provided as a positivity score.

* The sector comparator group comprises of the universities included in the 2024 Guardian League Table