Over 304,000 final-year students from more than 300 higher and further education institutions across the UK responded to this year's National Student Survey.
The University of East Anglia, The University of Exeter, Queen’s University Belfast and Newcastle University scored substantially above the university sector average of 86% in terms of satisfaction with the quality of teaching and overall student experience.
The University of East Anglia (UEA) was rated extremely highly for the quality of its teaching, with a score of 93 per cent – placing it ahead of both Oxford and Cambridge universities.
Four of the courses on offer at UEA were ranked first in the country, and a number of other courses were among the top five. UEA also achieved a great overall result, with a general satisfaction mark of 90 per cent.
Pro-vice-chancellor for academic affairs Professor Neil Ward said: “I am delighted that our students have once again demonstrated such high levels of satisfaction with UEA. These achievements demonstrate our ongoing commitment to improving the university experience for our students.”
The University of Exeter reported 91% overall satisfaction among its students - both in terms of the overall experience, and the quality of teaching.
Professor Janice Kay, deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Exeter, said: “We are delighted that our students have once again endorsed their experience of studying at Exeter in such glowing terms. We have retained our place in the top ten, which is testimony primarily to the fantastic support and teaching provided by our committed and talented workforce, but also to the state-of-the-art facilities in which we have heavily invested.
"Between 2009 and 2016 we are spending £680 million on capital projects designed to enhance the experience of our students and academics. This includes The Forum, which has won a string of awards and provides an excellent hub for our students, including a modern library which students told us they particularly value. Student satisfaction is at the heart of all we do here at Exeter, and all our innovations are guided by consultation with the student population. We are thrilled that they are telling us we are getting it right."
Queen’s University Belfast also achieved an overall 90 per cent student satisfaction rating, placing it in 12th place overall in the UK (excluding further education and specialist institutions).
Pro vice-chancellor, Professor Ellen Douglas-Cowie was delighted with the result: "Our NSS ranking has risen steadily over the last number of years, reflecting the fact that we are an institution which both listens to its students and is committed to investing in their futures,” she said.
“It is particularly heartening to see that, in addition to the high marks given to our overall student experience, including teaching and learning, many of our individual subjects have also scored particularly highly, with 24 subjects out of 41, from anthropology to aerospace engineering and music to medicine, achieving a rating of 90 per cent or higher.”
Ninety per cent of students at Newcastle University said they were happy with their overall experience. Standards of teaching at the university were rated very highly by students with at least 9 out of 10 saying staff were good at explaining things and that teachers were enthusiastic about their teaching.
Professor Suzanne Cholerton, pro-vice-chancellor for learning and teaching at Newcastle University, said: “It is great to see that our students are so enthusiastic about their time at Newcastle University. Today’s scores confirm the encouraging results we achieved in a recent International Student Survey, showing that we provide an excellent experience for all of our students.”