University of Salford's Creative Courses Given Thumbs Up in Student Satisfaction Survey

Close links with industry have been credited with a boost in satisfaction rates after Fine Art students were among the creatives to give a thumbs up to the University of Salford.

Hundreds of final year students praised creative subjects in their feedback to the National Student Satisfaction Survey (NSS) – conducted between February and April this year.

Students studying Fine Art gave their course 96% in the NSS – well above the 79% national average.

Lecturers put the success down to the ‘real world’ experiences they offer, in which students use the skills they develop on the course to develop projects with external organisations.

Over the last year, this has included taking part in a British Council research trip to Venice, working with the Walk The Plank theatre group to create work for the reopening of the University’s neighbouring Peel Park, and working on an internationally touring exhibition with Salford’s Hot Bed Press. 

Fashion Design achieved 100% satisfaction rates for the second year running – well above the 81% national average. Students on the course – ranked joint fourth in the country in this year’s Guardian League Table – have this year taken part in events in China, had work displayed at London Fashion Week, and won prestigious competitions run by Levis and Top Shop.

Interior Design, which rose 22 places to 86% - above the 81% national average – is another course in which students work closely with the industry. Over the past year, students have benefited from visits and talks with professionals from companies such as John Lewis Cheadle, Manchester’s King Street Townhouse Hotel and SpaceInvader Design.

Students on two courses were so impressed they gave the maximum score possible. Drama and Creative Writing went up 18 places to 100% - above a national average of 83% - while Media Technology also rose 12 points to 100% - compared with 78% nationally.

Journalism – taught at the University’s MediaCityUK campus next door to broadcasters such as the BBC and ITV – achieved a satisfaction rate of 90%, compared with a national average of 80%, while Computer and Video Games had a score of 90% - compared with 79% nationally.

Contemporary Military and International History shot up 14 places to 94% – above the national average of 89%.

English Literature was at 92% compared with 88% nationally, while Creative Writing was 86% above the 85% national average and Music was 81%, above the national average of 74%.

Overall the University's scores improved last year to more than 84% of students 'satisfied' with their course, compared to a national average of 83%.