Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey: Student Guide

We want to ensure postgraduate students have the best possible experience while studying at Arden University. To do that, we need to know what you think we’re doing well and what you think we can do better. If you’re considering taking part this year, below are the answers to some of the questions students often ask:

Eligible students will receive an email from Ipsos MORI, the market research firm who collect the feedback and results, and all results are completely anonymous.  

What is it?

The Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) is a national survey inviting postgraduate taught students to comment on their course and experience. The questionnaire takes just around 15 minutes to complete.

Why should I take part?

The PTES is your chance to tell us your thoughts about your course. The results help us compare how we’re doing against other institutions, to make changes that will improve what we do in the future and to keep doing the things that you value. All this will help improve the experience of students like you in the long run.

As a thank you for your time, you can receive a £15 Amazon e-voucher* and also be entered into a prize draw to win a further £500 Amazon e-voucher*, drawn after the survey closing date on Friday 17th June. 

To be eligible for the participation gift and prize draw*, you will need to provide a photograph or screenshot of the survey being completed and send this to competitions@arden.ac.uk.

*Terms and conditions apply

What does it cover?

PTES concentrates on your course and includes:

• The experience of teaching and learning, including: staff, learning materials, and working with other students;
• Engagement and course challenge;
• Assessment and feedback, including supervisor support for dissertation or major project;
• Organisation and management, including induction and involvement in course decisions;
• Resources, including learning resources;
• Support, including for academic skills and for health and wellbeing;
• Skills development, including independent learning, research skills, and career skills;
• Overall satisfaction;
• Covid-19 pandemic

What happens to the results?

Your feedback is important. Over one hundred universities and colleges take part. This means we can compare your experience against similar postgraduates at other institutions to see if we’re supporting your learning as we should. We use the findings to improve our courses and the learning experience for future students.

Is it anonymous?

Your survey response is confidential to the team processing the results and no reporting outside of this team will identify any individual. Any results communicated to teaching staff will be anonymised.

The survey asks that any comments you make should not identify yourself or any specific members of staff.

What do I need to do?

You’ll receive an email with a link to the questionnaire on Monday 25^th April. Simply click on the link and complete the online form by Friday 17^th June.

Where can I find out more?

If you’re unsure about anything to do with the survey, or have any difficulty, please see your course or course leader, or contact study@arden.ac.uk. You can also read more about the survey here .