National Student Survey 2019: Student Satisfaction in London

London is one of the world’s most famous cities. Rich with history and constant excitement, the capital of England is far from dull. So surely this is the best environment to study your university course? With endless culture and a tangible buzz, this city should be the perfect hub for students. However, this is far from reality. Recent surveys have estimated that London students have the lowest rate of student satisfaction than in any other part of the country.

A recent survey conducted by the National Student Survey (NSS) shows that students in London are far less satisfied with their life as a student in comparison to those outside the capital.

I extracted 5 random universities from inner and outer London and compared the data. The results show that Inner London universities have an average student satisfaction rate of 78.2% compared to the outer London universities 85%.

So why is this and what is the difference between London and the rest of Britain?

Social involvement with other students is key to student satisfaction. Megan Book, the vice-captain of the cheerleading society at Nottingham Trent University, believes there is a higher student satisfaction at her university because of the community they have. “There are over 100 different societies for every type of person,” she says. “There is a real sense of belonging and being proud of your uni.”

At Nottingham Trent, there is an array of societies from cheerleading to the ‘cocktail club’ society. All students are encouraged to take part in at least one, with 80% belonging to a society. Megan has been a part of the cheerleading society for 2 years. She explains how “there is no separation in age or ability, we are all a family whether we are 1st or 3rd years.”

Flying high: Nottingham Trent tigers

In comparison, Ira Bud, a student at Goldsmiths University, believes that there are not enough societies at her university. “There is more emphasis on academics than social events…. We don’t feel like we are a part of anything.” London Universities do provide social clubs; however, they are not as popular. “There are many clubs, but they are quite exclusive unless you have previous experience in that area.”

For example, there are is only one cheerleading team per university at the majority of London universities. Whereas there are several teams in non-London universities so that amateurs can try something new. This may make students feel excluded and therefore less content with their university experience.

GoldSmiths University

There are several factors that contribute to overall satisfaction among students. One that is heavily weighted is the COST OF LIVING.

It is estimated by 'Which' that accommodation in London ranges from £533-£770 per month. Whilst areas such as Leeds can be as low as £281-£353 per month. This enormous gap in prices is said to have an effect on students well-being. University counsellor for LSE, Emma Nabavian, explains how it can take a toll on students. “Financial burden is a lot for the majority of us, but when you’re a student it is a constant weight on your shoulders,” she says. “London is filled with stressed hard-working, young people who have to pay extortionate amounts for accommodation. This could definitely contribute to the lack of student satisfaction.” Emma has seen “several students” come through her office with financial burdens, leading to a decline in their mental health.

Financial issues are an external factor that cannot be pinned on London Universities. In contrast, is there more that they could do to help?

Further, there are several other facilitating factors that lead to students satisfaction. I conducted a survey that asked students about several areas of their university experience.

This set of results was extrapolated from a group of 10 students, five of whom went to a London university and five who went to university in other parts of the country. The survey asked them to rate each category from 1-10, 1 being unsatisfactory and 10 being extremely satisfied. The average satisfaction rate for each category was higher for the outer-London universities. This comes despite London being renowned for its education.

Interestingly, social influences were the most common cause of an unsatisfactory score. 4/5 subjects from London said there was not enough social events/clubs. Whilst 5/5 from outside London claimed there were many clubs made available to them.

London at its most beautiful

IN SUMMARY

It is difficult to pinpoint why there is such low satisfaction amongst London students. From finance to the lack of social events, there is an array of factors that do not match those of other universities. There is a lack of belonging to something bigger and interacting with others that London students do not get to experience. Other universities have higher satisfaction as there is a community that surrounds them. The financial aspect is off-putting for many and therefore stressful for students.

However, those in London do have one of the highest career prospects due to their surroundings and can gain vital work experience whilst in the capital. As student satisfaction continues to fall we may see universities willing to intervene and make London universities as enjoyable for students as it can be.