The comments come as the National Student Survey (NSS) 2009 shows a dip in overall satisfaction among the first generation graduating under top up-fees with average debts of £20,000 and as vice chancellors lobby to charge even higher fees to students.
Wes Streeting, NUS President, commented “We are pleased that most students remain happy with the quality of university courses. However, we are concerned that the survey reveals a dip in overall levels of satisfaction as the first group of students to pay top up fees prepared to graduate.
“Tuition fees in England were trebled in 2006, but students have not seen a demonstrable improvement in the quality of their experience. Universities have a responsibility to deliver substantial improvements in return for the huge increase in income they are receiving from fees.”
While the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) argue that overall satisfaction "remains high", the results have shown a drop to 81% satisfaction for the first time in four years.
Assessment and feedback, an area that NUS campaigned for, showed a welcome increase in satisfaction. Academic support and personal feedback also showed slight increases from the 2008 survey.
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