Our Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) has had a larger uptake from UK higher education institutions (HEIs) in 2020 than ever before.
There are now 112 institutions signed up to the survey, which aims to measure the quality of the experience received by taught postgraduate students. The previous record participation was in 2016 when 108 HEIs took part, but this year is set to top that comfortably with time still left for institutions to sign up.
PTES is the only sector-wide taught postgraduate survey in the UK and provides institutions with confidential data for enhancement as well as a range of benchmark comparisons with groups of other institutions.
For example, from the 2019 PTES Report:
As well as tracking the experience, PTES considers students’ motivations for taking their programme and – where relevant – their experience of undertaking a dissertation or major project. It covers satisfaction, including between different ethnic groups; the influence of working while studying; reasons behind students considering leaving their course and suggestions for experiential improvements within institutions.
It was developed in consultation with the sector and has been robustly tested across diverse disciplines, institutions and students to ensure it produces valid and useful results.
Jonathan Neves, Head of Business Intelligence and Surveys at Advance HE, said:
“PTES is a key sector-wide barometer of the PGT student experience and this year’s strong participation underlines its enduring appeal.
“We look forward to working with such a wide variety of institutions to provide fast-turnaround insight to drive enhancement of the experience across the sector.”
Data from PTES allows institutions to compare their postgraduate provision against others in the sector across disciplines and at an institutional level. This information is vital in order to identify areas of strength as well as address areas for development, increasing the appeal of institutions’ programmes and the information provided to prospective students.
Visit the Advance HE website to find out more about our student surveys and sign up for PTES 2020.
The Advance HE Surveys and Insights Conference 2020 provides an opportunity to discuss and debate the potential for insight derived from surveys, metrics and qualitative research. As well as exploring wider methods of capturing the voice of the student for driving excellence and enhancement within higher education. Click here for more information and to book your place.