University of Sheffield no longer rated top by students

The University of Sheffield ranked third highest overall in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey, which is based on responses from almost 14,700 undergraduate students.

The university fell from the number one spot it reached in the 2014 survey, but fellow Yorkshire university Leeds ranked in ninth place for a second year in a row.

Students across the UK rated their universities in 21 categories, including the quality of the staff, lectures, social life and accommodation.

The University of Bath was voted to offer the best student experience in the country, followed by Loughborough University, which jumped to second place from eleventh last year.

The average student experience score has fallen slightly across the board compared to last year, according to the survey.

The University of Sheffield came joint third in the high quality facilities category, but University of Leeds beat it to rank joint third for cheapest shops and bars, where Sheffield ranked joint sixth.

The University of York, which came 22nd in the overall experience rankings, came joint ninth in the quality of lecturers and staff category.

Responding to the results, Professor Vivien Jones, University of Leeds Pro­-Vice­-Chancellor for Student Education, said: “Working in close partnership with Leeds University Union, we listen to our students and work hard to respond to their needs and aspirations, so being voted into the top ten once again is really encouraging.

“Leeds is a fantastic place to live and study and we are very proud that our students also rate it so highly year after year.”

She added: “We aim to give students a flying start to life by inspiring them to embrace everything that university has to offer.

“The powerful combination of knowledge and opportunity we provide for students is a defining feature of education at Leeds.”

The University of Surrey and Newcastle University all entered the top ten, while the University of Nottingham, University of Dundee and Durham University exited it.