Press release: NUS launches first major study into student life and learning

The National Union of Students today announced a ground breaking three-year research project into students’ experiences before, during and after their studies.

The in-depth study will examine all areas of the student learning experience, including the number of contact hours that students receive with tutors, the quality of accommodation, the “hidden” additional costs associated with studying, and the number of hours that students spend in paid employment during term time. It will also examine whether students’ experience of higher education matches their expectations.

NUS President Gemma Tumelty said: “This is a significant and substantial piece of research that will help NUS to focus its representational activities in order to make a real difference to students' lives in years to come. It will provide us with a solid evidence base upon which to base our campaigns, so that we can fight for students' rights even more effectively in the future.”

The research will be funded by a grant from HSBC. HSBC’s support for the study resulted from consultations with NUS following the bank’s decision last year not to charge interest on graduate overdrafts after feedback from its customers and NUS.

HSBC’s Head of Graduate and Student Accounts Lucy Payne said: “We said at the time that HSBC was not too big to listen to its customers and we meant it. We have now committed to funding this research project over three years to listen to students, as well as continuing to consult and work with NUS on addressing the very real problem of student and graduate debt. HSBC is a major supporter of financial literacy in the UK and around the world, and we believe this research will provide an unprecedented insight into the issues facing students and how we can help them achieve financial stability.”

Gemma Tumelty concluded: “We were very pleased that HSBC listened to students last year and decided to keep its 0% overdraft for graduates. Students often struggle in low-paid jobs upon graduation and for many recent graduates an interest-free overdraft can make a real difference.”

Notes to editors:

• The survey will be divided into the following areas:
  CHOOSING YOUR COURSE AND UNIVERSITY;
  QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF TEACHING;
  PERSONALISATION;
  COURSEWORK AND FEEDBACK;
  ACCOMMODATION;
  FACILITIES AND RESOURCES;
  STUDENT WELFARE SERVICES;
  CRIME AND SAFETY;
  STUDENT FINANCE;
  CURRENT EMPLOYMENT;
  POST COURSE PLANS;
  OVERALL FEELINGS ABOUT UNIVERSITY AND WAYS TO IMPROVE IT;
  DEMOGRAPHICS