University of Chichester students are among most satisfied in UK

• Student experience and quality of its teaching responsible for high satisfaction rates
• Guardian 2021 University Guide ranked Chichester in the country’s top-30
• Recently named a top-three UK university for student welfare
• Students have also praised the University’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic

STUDENTS at the University of Chichester are among the most satisfied in the UK, a new national report has revealed.

The students’ overall experience and quality of its teaching were among the themes responsible for its high satisfaction rates, according to the Guardian 2021 University Guide, which also ranked the institution in the country’s top-30. A number of its courses were given a 100 per cent satisfaction rate, by the Guide, including psychology, musical theatre, and early childhood studies.

It was also named as one of the top-three best UK universities for student welfare by the 2018 Times Higher Education student experience survey.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Dr Mark Mason, who oversees student experience at the University, added: “Ensuring our students receive an outstanding and memorable experience here is crucial and we acknowledge the key role that our wonderful staff play in achieving this result.”

The high Guardian rankings follow a successful few weeks for the University, which was praised by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021 for its student experience, ranking it in the top 20 nationwide. The Guide, which is one of the most authoritative reports to UK higher education, also rated Chichester as the sixth-best university in the South East region.

Happy students – Chichester named in top-three for its supportive welfare  

Chichester’s students, meanwhile have praised the University’s response to Covid-19 pandemic.

First-year Primary Teaching student Cliona MacDonald said: “Although most UK universities are teaching primarily online at the moment, Chichester is teaching in person as much as possible.

“All of my lectures have been in person and lecturers try really hard to make it as normal as possible. We sit at least a metre apart from each other and wear masks to protect each other, and get frequent breaks to go outside and take it off.”

Rebecca Deebank, who is studying Psychology, added: “It hasn’t been as difficult as I would have thought. The University have worked hard to make sure we can still attend in-person lectures as often as possible, and have made all resources available online for the remainder of the week.

“It has been tougher to make more friendships, but spending so much time with flatmates and a couple of people on the same course has strengthened those friendships quicker than usual. It has been harder to meet other students (due to Covid) but the University have done their best to keep societies and events running, adhering to social distancing guidelines.”

The University has this last month worked in collaboration with the government to open Covid-19 testing centres on its Bognor Regis campus and at Northgate car park in Chichester. The centres are available for community residents as well as students and staff to undergo tests.

Find out how the University of Chichester provides an inclusive and enriching experience of higher education for its students at www.twitter.com/chiuni.