Postgraduate students give Teesside the thumbs-up

Postgraduate students have given the thumbs up to studying at Teesside University in a nationwide survey.

The University has over 3,500 postgraduate students and Teesside was comfortably above the national average for satisfaction with its learning resources, with a score of 93% compared to 89% nationally.

The 2011 Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) also saw a rise in overall student satisfaction among those studying on taught postgraduate programmes at Teesside University - with 87% of respondents saying they were satisfied with the overall experience of their course. This compared with a score of 82% in 2010.

We put students at the heart of everything we do Professor Caroline MacDonald, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Partnerships and Student Experience), said: 'We put students at the heart of everything we do and I’m delighted to see that our scores for student satisfaction increasing among our taught postgraduate students. It is gratifying to get such an endorsement that we are delivering a good student experience.'

Part-time master’s boosts Alex's career prospects

After enjoying history at school in Newcastle, Alex Smith had a varied career before finding her perfect career niche with the North of England Civic Trust (NECT) in 2007. The Trust works on conservation, regeneration and community development projects across the North East, Cumbria and North Yorkshire.

'My role includes researching the history of, and writing about, buildings and neighbourhoods for conservation plans and conservation area appraisals as part of a small, friendly team working in Blackfriars Friary in Newcastle,” said Alex, 46, originally from the Tyne Valley but now living in Sunderland.

'But I always regretted not having a degree, so I was delighted to find that I could join the MA Cultural History course at Teesside on the strength of my experience and my work with the Trust.

'It was hard work, with lectures on two evenings a week and essays to write – but it was enjoyable and rewarding as I was part of a small group of mature part-time students who provided mutual support.

Widen my career prospects 'My improved research skills and writing confidence have helped with my job, and the qualification will widen my career prospects.

'But what matters more is that I proved to myself that I could rise to the challenge, and I'm very proud I gained a distinction for my dissertation. My tutors were very supportive throughout the course, and suggested I try to have a book published, based on my dissertation – that’s my next aim.'

Find out more about studying at master's level at Teesside University's postgraduate open day on 14 September 2011 or visit www.tees.ac.uk/postgraduate

The survey

The PTES measures satisfaction across key areas that contribute to a student’s study experience and Teesside experienced year on year improvements to questions concerning ‘Overall Experience of my course’, ‘Quality of Learning and Teaching’, ‘Assessment & Feedback’, ‘Organisation & Management’ and ‘Skills & Personal Development’.

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