Durham University achieves its strongest recent performance in National Student Survey results

Durham University has achieved its strongest recent performance in the 2025 National Student Survey results.

Durham University has achieved its strongest recent performance in the 2025 National Student Survey (NSS). Results confirm the University’s continued upward trajectory in student satisfaction and learning experience.

The NSS, one of the UK’s most significant measures of undergraduate student opinion, saw Durham improve across nearly every domain, outperforming sector and Russell Group averages in numerous key areas.

Durham now ranks in the top quartile (Q1) for Teaching, Academic Support, Learning Opportunities, and Organisation & Management, placing it among the top 10% out of 126 non-specialist UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

Additionally, Durham has shown significant gains in Assessment & Feedback and Learning Opportunities, rising from the lowest and mid-tier quartiles respectively to Q2, while Student Voice has climbed from Q4 to Q3.

Professor Tony Fawcett, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Education at Durham University said: “This is the definitive survey which gives students a voice.

“They have spoken. We have heard. And we are seeing the results of acting on students’ feedback.”

The proportion of students giving positive responses has increased in nearly every area, with notable surges in Student Voice and in Assessment & Feedback.

Durham has not only met but exceeded Office for Students (OfS) benchmarks in three full domains and eight individual questions.

The University’s efforts to strengthen mental health communications have been recognised, with a jump from Q3 to Q2 for the relevant question. Freedom of expression remains rated in Q1.

When compared exclusively with Russell Group peers, Durham places in the top quartile for every domain except Learning resources (Q2).

Durham’s academic departments are broadly meeting or exceeding subject-level benchmarks, with standout performance across most faculties. The majority of programmes continue to deliver a learning experience that exceeds student expectations.

These NSS results add to a string of successes for Durham in recent months. The University has retained its position in the global top 100 in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and ranks 64th in the world for employability.

It has climbed nine places for academic reputation and continues to be a leader in sustainability, ranking 22nd globally.

Domestically, Durham is consistently recognised as a UK top 5 university by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide and the Complete University Guide.

The NSS gathers the views of nearly half a million final-year students across the UK, providing critical insight into the student academic experience. The feedback is used by institutions, regulators, and prospective students to evaluate and enhance higher education provision.

For more information on studying at Durham University, please visit: https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/