Term 1 Survey 25/26

The Term 1 Survey

In December, over 1,000 students completed our Term 1 survey.

See how students found the start of the year, and how this compares to other surveys.

UNIVERSITY

Students rate their experience positively

92% of students rated their Essex experience positively, the same score as this time last year. We know from previous years that this score tends to decline as students get further into their studies, and experience the stresses that accompany student life.

belonging REMAINS POSITIVE

79% of students felt they belonged at Essex - a 2 % decrease compared to this point last year, but a 4% increase when compared to the Welcome survey. While still broadly positive, this pattern reflects how students’ sense of belonging evolves as they move beyond Welcome and into the realities of term-time.

university NPS rising

Essex’s Net Promoter Score (NPS), which shows how likely students are to recommend The University of Essex, fell 10 points compared to this point last year. However, this is still classes as a ‘good’ rating.

Students who would recommend Essex feel academically engaged and socially settled.

Those who wouldn’t mentioned recurring frustrations rather than disengagement. Key issues: teaching and organisation, accommodation and cost, communication and support, and belonging.

opportunity to increase engagement

75% agreed they could engage with opportunities at Essex. No change on the previous year. Whilst it’s positive, it highlights room for improvement for the quarter of students who disagreed.

anxiety remains an issue

When asked if there were barriers to engaging with opportunities, anxiety remains the highest reason given, closely followed by expensive travel and timetable clashes.

COURSE

course NPS rising

Students mostly remain likely to recommend their course, though there is a slight dip when compared to asking this time last year. This sustained yearly improvement reflects growing student confidence, particularly where teaching is consistent, expectations are clear and academic support is visible early on.

confidence in academic skills unchanged

75% said they felt confident in their academic skills – no change to last year. There’s an opportunity to work with the quarter of students who don’t feel strongly here.

Academic confidence varies more by stage of study than by subject area. Postgraduate students consistently report higher confidence than undergraduates, reflecting the role of prior academic experience in shaping how secure students feel early on.

sense of cOURSE Community GROWS

64% said they feel a sense of community on their course, 1% drop compared to last year. However, 24% feel neutral, suggesting many students are still finding their place early in the year. Disagreement remains low and stable (12%), indicating that lack of community is not widespread, but early connection is not yet universal.

Explore our Tableau dashboard

We’ve shared the headline results, but you can explore further by campus, department, or demographic through our custom Tableau dashboard (created with the brilliant PDI team - thank you Naomi, Stephen and Megan!).

👉 If you need access, email poquery@essex.ac.uk

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Student experience remains positive: 92% of students rate their Essex experience positively, consistent with last year despite increasing academic and personal pressures.
Belonging shifts post-Welcome: 79% feel they belong at Essex, down slightly year-on-year but higher than at Welcome, reflecting changing student expectations during term time.
Advocacy remains strong overall: Although University NPS has declined compared to last year, it remains ‘good’. Dissatisfaction is driven by practical issues rather than lack of engagement.
Clear opportunity to boost engagement: 75% feel able to engage with opportunities, unchanged year-on-year, with anxiety, cost, and timetable clashes the main barriers.
Course confidence is stable: Course recommendation remains high, academic confidence sits at 75%, and sense of course community continues to develop as students find their place early in the year.