Student Experience at QMU
Tell us about your QMU experience!
Your feedback helps us improve your student experience, including the quality of our academic programmes and services.
It’s important that you let us know as soon as possible about any issues, as well as telling us what we do well.
There are many ways you can communicate with us – some informal and others more formal. We run a number of surveys during the year, including:
- The QMU Entrants Survey (QES) for students who have just joined QMU;
- The National Student Survey (NSS) for final year undergraduates;
- Our own QMU Student Survey (QSS) for all other taught students.
These give students at every level of study the opportunity to comment. Taking part won’t take up much of your time and you’ll even get the chance to win a prize! Find out more about these surveys by clicking on the relevant tabs below.
Check what your feedback can do under Making a Difference, where you can see some of the changes that we’ve made.
Class Reps also play a key role in representing students’ views on their teaching and learning experience. Make sure you know who your Rep is, or why not consider becoming a Rep yourself? Go to Student Representation for more information.
The QMU Entrant Survey (QES)
What is it?
The QES is an annual survey of all incoming new taught students, i.e. entrants starting their studies at QMU that year.
Who can take part?
If you are an incoming taught student at QMU, the Student Retention and Surveys Team will send you an email in September or January inviting you to take part. If you are a Direct Entrant (i.e. undergraduate entrant starting your studies at QMU that year and coming directly to level 2, 3 or 4), and have attended the dedicated Coming from College induction, you will be able to provide your feedback on this within the QES.
When does it run?
Every year in Semester 1, from week 3 to week 5, and in January for courses starting then.
How is it run?
The survey is run by the Student Retention and Surveys Team, who makes sure all responses remain confidential. Students complete the survey online through a dedicated Online Surveys site. All eligible students are emailed a direct link to the survey.
Why take part?
QES results can help us identify areas where we are doing well, as well as areas for development, so that we can keep improving the experience of students joining QMU. These cover all steps of the joining process, from information before applying to QMU to the admissions process and your induction. See our Making a Difference section for some examples of how we have been acting on your feedback.
Where can I find the results of the survey?
QMU students can see the results from QES on the Student Surveys site on the Hub.
The National Student Survey (NSS)
What is it?
The NSS is an annual survey of final year undergraduates across the UK which covers a range of topics on the student learning experience.
Who can take part?
If you are a final year student, Ipsos MORI will send you an email in February inviting you to take part.
When does it run?
Every year during semester two.
How is it run?
The survey is run independently by Ipsos MORI and responses are confidential. The University is provided with the anonymised data. Students can complete the survey online through the .
Why take part?
Survey results help us identify areas where we are doing well, as well as areas for development, so that we can keep improving the student learning experience for future generations of students. See our Making a Difference section belowÌýfor some examples of how we have been acting on your feedback.
Where can I find the results of the survey?
The NSS results are available on theÌýto help prospective students make informed decisions of where and what to study. Some of the NSS results are also included in the KIS (Key Information Set) widget to be found at the bottom of each undergraduate programme home page on the QMU website.
QMU students can also see the results from previous NSS surveys on the Student Surveys site on the Hub.
QMU Student Survey (QSS)
What is it?
The QSS is an annual survey which covers a range of topics on the student learning experience. It asks the same questions as the NSS and is for all taught QMU students who are not eligible to take part in the NSS. Within the QSS, taught postgraduate students are also asked specific questions on their research project/ dissertation.
Who can take part?
All taught students at QMU not eligible for the NSS can take part. This normally means first to third year undergraduates as well as taught postgraduate students.
When does it run?
Every year during semester two.
How is it run?
The survey is run by the Student Retention and Surveys Team, who makes sure all responses remain confidential. Students can complete the survey online through a dedicated Online Surveys site. All eligible students are emailed a direct link to the survey.
Why take part?
QSS results help us identify areas where we are doing well, as well as areas for development, so that we can keep improving your learning experience throughout your time at QMU. See ourÌýMaking a DifferenceÌýsection for some examples of how we have been acting on your feedback.
Where can I find the results of the survey?
QMU students can see the results from previous QSS surveys on the Student Surveys site on the Hub.
Ìý
Making a Difference
Here are some of the changes we’ve made thanks to your feedback. You can find more examples on our "You said, we did" posters around campus.
Starting at QMU
- We changed the layout of the induction website to make it easier to locate your induction timetable.
- We recruited more student guides to help you on arrivals weekend and during induction week.
- We added new events for international and EU students during arrivals weekend and induction week, including a bus trip to IKEA and a walking tour of Musselburgh.
Your studies
- We created 2 new quiet study rooms and 5 additional group study spaces in the LRC.
- We are piloting a new feedback dialogue system in some programmes, giving you the opportunity to request feedback on specific areas and reflect on how you have acted upon previous feedback.
- Some programmes have developed a ‘Glossary of Feedback Terms’ to make it easier for you to understand commonly used expressions and tutor feedback.
- We have put in place robust systems to provide prompt feedback within the 20 working day deadline.
- We have created a new handbook for supervisors of Postgraduate Research students and are now running yearly supervisor’s training sessions.
Life on Campus
- Free hot water is now available in 1875 for students and staff who use their own cup.
- The atrium is open 24/7.
- We have added additional power sockets in the atrium.
- We produced a mobile app to show you where terminals are available across the University.
Thanks for helping us make QMU better! Your voice really does count.
Student Representation
What is it?
Student representatives play a key role in enhancing your student experience at QMU.
The University and the Students’ Union offer a range of opportunities for students to become involved in representative activities. Roles are wide ranging from Class Reps who work with academic staff to consider and address students’ views on their learning experience to student panellists at programme validation and review events and members of senior University Committees.
Student representation is a partnership between the University, the Students’ Union and the students. Students receive training and support in their roles. This year introductory training for new Class Reps will be delivered by Student Representation Assistants, who are also experienced QMU Class Reps.
Further information on the Class Rep’s role and training dates is available on the and by contacting classreps@qmu.ac.uk
The Students’ Union also offers a series of advanced training sessions and on-going support through the Academic Council. This forum meets twice a semester, is chaired by the Student President and offers all Class Reps the opportunity to meet, share experiences and raise any concerns about academic matters with the Students’ Union.
Student Partnership Agreement (SPA)
The SPA was developed by the Students’ Union and the University. It is intended as a concise and user-friendly document to make students and staff aware of agreed areas for enhancement. It outlines opportunities for student engagement and representation at QMU and identifies 4 key projects which the University and the SU will work on. For further information please see the Student Partnership Agreement
For further information please contact studentpresident@qmu.ac.uk or SPA@qmu.ac.uk
Other ways to provide feedback
There are many different staff and services who can help you at Queen Margaret University, please see the Services for Students webpage for further information.
If you have any questions on any of the surveys we run, please contact the Student Retention and Surveys Team by emailing studentsurvey@qmu.ac.uk.
So have your voice heard, and make sure you can enjoy the best possible student experience at QMU!
Student Retention and Surveys Team
If you have any questions on any of the surveys we run, please email the Student Retention and Surveys Team.
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