Give feedback : University of Sussex

Explore the different ways you can have your say to help make student life better for everyone, and hear how we’ve acted on your feedback.

Why your feedback matters

Student feedback is crucial for us to understand how things are going and helps to shape all aspects of work across the university.

We ask you to provide feedback in different forms throughout the year, and each has its own purpose. This can include taking part in surveys, completing module evaluations each term, or sharing ideas and opinions with your Student Reps to discuss with staff.

We want to hear about the things that are working for you, so we can do more of those, as well as your suggestions for making student experience at Sussex even better. Your feedback leads to real change, for you and your year or for future students.

Learn how you can let us know how we’re doing, and read student feedback stories about making Sussex a great place to study.

National Student Survey

The National Student Survey (NSS) is an annual survey for final-year undergraduate students. It gives you the opportunity to reflect on your experience at Sussex, including teaching, academic support, learning resources and your wider university experience.

Your responses help the University and Students’ Union understand what matters to students and identify areas where changes could improve the student experience.

Learn more about the NSS.

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey

The Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) is for students studying on postgraduate taught courses. It asks about different aspects of your experience, including your course, assessment and feedback, skills development and wider student experience.

Your feedback helps us understand what is working well and where improvements could be made for current and future postgraduate students.

Learn more about the PTES.

Module Evaluation Questionnaires

The Module Evaluation Questionnaires (MEQs) are one of the most important ways you can tell us what is working well in your modules and where improvements could be made. Your feedback helps tutors understand what supports your learning and how modules can continue to develop.

If you are taking relevant modules, you will receive an email with a personalised link to your module survey portal when the MEQs open.

Feedback from previous surveys has led to improvements across the University, including clearer assessment guidance and marking criteria, improvements to Canvas and reading list design and navigation, and changes to how seminars and lectures are run. It has also helped departments identify innovative ideas and high-quality teaching practices that other modules can learn from.

Other surveys

There are plenty of other surveys and ways for you to provide feedback throughout your time at Sussex, including the What Uni Student Choice Awards and student success survey.

Where does your student voice go?

Student feedback is represented through a clear governance structure, ensuring that issues you raise are heard, discussed and acted upon at the appropriate level. See how we incorporate your feedback:

School and department meetings

Across the university, departments and schools hold a range of meetings where Course Reps can share feedback, represent the views of their peers and raise any course-related issues. These meetings provide an opportunity for reps to work directly with staff to discuss student concerns and identify solutions at a local level.

The structure and format of these meetings vary between schools and departments. Where issues cannot be resolved within the department or school, they can be escalated to the Faculty Student Experience Forum for further discussion and action.
Faculty Student Experience Forums

Feedback gathered by Student Reps is discussed at Faculty Student Experience Forums. These meetings are co-chaired by Senior Course Reps and Faculty Student Experience Leads, providing an opportunity to review student feedback, identify solutions and monitor progress on issues raised within each faculty.
University Student Experience Forum (USEF)

Where issues cannot be resolved at faculty level, they may be escalated to the University Student Experience Forum (USEF). USEF brings together Senior Course Reps and senior University staff to discuss, consult on and monitor matters relating to the student learning experience and wellbeing. The forum is co-chaired by the Students’ Union Education and Employability Officer and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students), providing a space to share good practice and drive improvements across the University.
Student Voice Sub Committee (SVSC)

The Student Voice Sub Committee (SVSC) steers the development and effective implementation of student voice processes across the University in collaboration with the University of Sussex Students’ Union. SVSC has oversight over institutional student surveys, module evaluations, student representative scheme, student voice within governance structures and events related to student voice. Four Committee Reps are elected to sit on SVSC, alongside elected officers and staff from the Students’ Union.
University Education Committee (UEC)

The University Education Committee (UEC) is a responsible for shaping academic policy, assessment methods, and the student learning experience across the university. Student representation on UEC includes four elected Committee Reps, alongside elected Students’ Union Officers, ensuring that student perspectives are considered in University-level decision-making.