Student experience has improved across the board for the fourth year in a row at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), according to a national survey. 

Each year, students in the final year of their undergraduate course are invited to take part in the National Student Survey (NSS), anonymously answering questions about their university experience.  

The questions are spread across seven key themes: teaching on my course, learning opportunities, assessment and feedback, academic support, organisation and management, learning resources and student voice. 

This year, nearly 90 per cent of students who took part praised the learning resources available to them at DMU. Student voice and Organisation and Management enjoyed the highest score increase, moving up by 5.8 and 5.5 points respectively. 

Results in the annual survey have been rising year-on-year since the introduction of block teaching, in which students study just one module at a time instead of the traditional model of several subjects all at once. 

During these four years, scores across all the themes have increased, including teaching on my course, which rose by 6.1 points and assessment and feedback, which saw a 5.9 point increase. Student voice and organisation and management have increased the most over that time, going up by 11.6 and 11.4 percentage points, respectively.  

Vice-Chancellor of DMU, Professor Katie Normington, said: “The NSS is one of the most important measures of how students experience university life, so to see our results improve for the fourth year in a row is particularly rewarding. 

"A university experience should set students up for success. As their needs change, we are listening and adapting our approach, and I believe students appreciate that. It's one of the many reasons why we are continuing to improve year-on-year."

“The impact of Block Teaching has been instrumental in our improving scores. We know that students come here because they can focus on one module at a time, develop their learning of a subject in more depth and that provides them with greater satisfaction.  

“It also gives them the flexibility to better manage their time outside the classroom, giving them greater flexibility, which is reflected in these scores.” 

A successful showing in this year’s NSS follows on from two top twenty finishes in the national WhatUni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs) and the UniCompare rankings. DMU was rated one of the top 20 universities in the WUSCAs rankings, while the university was ranked the tenth best in the country for getting students good jobs and 19th best institution nationwide according to UniCompare.  

Like the NSS rankings, these metrics are based entirely on students’ experiences.  

Precious Ikechukwu, Student Voice Leader for Academic Experience at DSU, said: “Every day, we work with the university to ensure our students are heard. I think today’s results reflect that both DMU and DSU are putting the students’ experience first.  

“University is about being able to grow as an individual and gain a better understanding of the world around you. 

“It goes to show that when students share their views, it helps create meaningful change for current and future students.” 

The full results of the NSS are available to view on the Office for Students’ website. 

Posted on Wednesday 8 July 2026