Top student satisfaction for the OU in Scotland

The Open University in Scotland has achieved 90% for overall student satisfaction, ranking joint first in Scotland, in the National Student Survey 2022 published today (6 July 2022). 

The NSS is an annual survey of nearly half a million final year students across the UK. It is their opportunity to give honest feedback about what it has been like to study on their course at their university or college.  

The Open University (OU) is the fourth largest university in Scotland and it has taken part in the survey since 2005 consistently scoring highly in student satisfaction. This year, the OU in Scotland has ranked joint first along with the University of St Andrew's out of the 19 institutions that took part. While a distance learning university, its Student Support Team is dedicated to ensuring the provision of a supportive community and learning environments for students across Scotland through a number of channels including phone, online and email. 

Susan Stewart, Director of the Open University in Scotland said: 

“I am delighted that the OU in Scotland delivers the best experience in Scotland along with the University of St Andrew's. This is fantastic news which reflects the sustained high-quality learning, teaching and student experience you can expect from the OU. While we are a distance learning university, we offer individual support based on the unique needs of each student.

“I am very proud of the way we make a positive difference for our students based in communities across Scotland. We will keep working closely with our students to act on what they have told us; and we will build on these excellent results to help further improve the overall experience for our current and future learners.”

Recent nursing graduate Elivra Viray, who juggled work in a care home in Argyll alongside studying for an OU BSc (Honours) Adult Nursing, said:  

“The tutors were great in supporting me during my studies when I felt overwhelmed with work. They helped me feel relaxed and gave me lots of reassurance through many of their resources such as online tutors, practical tutors, the online forum, a big community of students, from the technical department, computing department, and library resources aiding me to do my research.”  

Aberdeen-based oil and gas technical assistant Jennifer Bratton moved house multiple times, got married and had two children during the course of completing her OU BA (Honours) Business Studies her degree studies. She said:  

“The OU and my tutors were easy to talk to and in times where I was ready to throw in the towel, both the OU and tutors spoke through my options clearly and never put pressure on me to make a decision. The OU always wants to make sure that your decisions are in your own best interest, and I am so grateful that I had them available to talk to when I felt I needed that extra level of guidance and support.”