Abertay ranked top Scottish modern university for student satisfaction

Abertay breaks into top three Scottish universities in National Student Survey 2023

Abertay has been ranked top modern university in Scotland for student satisfaction as the university breaks into the country's top three.

The National Student Survey (NSS) 2023 results, published today, are the sector’s key measure on student satisfaction and showed Abertay ranked third among Scotland’s 18 universities.

There were several success stories at individual programme ranking level, and also for Abertay Students' Association, which rose to be ranked fifth in Scotland.

Student satisfaction 

• Psychology - top in Scotland and second in the UK for teaching satisfaction

• Sport and Exercise Sciences - top in Scotland for overall student satisfaction

• Sociology - top Scottish modern for teaching satisfaction

• Biomedical Science - second in Scotland for teaching satisfaction

• Business Management - third in Scotland for teaching satisfaction

• Civil Engineering - top in Scotland for teaching satisfaction

• Computer Games - top in Scotland for teaching satisfaction

• Food Science - top in Scotland and third in UK for teaching satisfaction

• Forensics - top in Scotland and UK for teaching satisfaction

• Law - top in Scotland and UK for teaching satisfaction

• Mental Health Nursing - top in Scotland for teaching satisfaction

Professor Liz Bacon, Principal & Vice-Chancellor, said: “The NSS is a hugely important survey for all UK universities because it gathers feedback from final year students on their experience and provides a strong benchmark for future applicants on which to make their decisions. Abertay consistently performs well in terms of student satisfaction, teaching quality and other key measures, but to have ranked inside the top three in Scotland – and top among modern universities - is an outstanding achievement. We pride ourselves on being smaller, offering a friendly and community-focused student experience and providing teaching that’s of a first-rate standard – so it’s really pleasing to see that commitment reflected back in our students’ survey responses. My thanks and congratulations go to all of our academic and professional services staff, whose dedication and hard work makes Abertay such a fantastic place to study.”

Olivia Robertson, Student President said: “It’s fantastic that both Abertay Students’ Association and the University have had such a great result in the NSS 2023. Abertay is a wonderful place to study, the academic and support staff are super-helpful and at Abertay Students’ Association we work really hard to make sure there’s heaps of activities, campaigns, social opportunities and support structures in place to help make the student experience one of the very best anywhere in the UK.”

Dundee is known as Scotland’s student city, with more students per head of population than anywhere else in the country. The student population brings significant economic value to Dundee and Abertay graduates provide the pipeline of graduate talent to key industries across the city.

The latest NSS rankings come as thousands of Scottish students enter Clearing and follow similar success for Abertay in the Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023, which saw the University ranked inside the UK top 20 for teaching quality and named top in Scotland for social inclusion for the second year in a row.

Abertay is also consistently ranked among the top universities in the world for video games design by the Princeton Review.