The University of Portsmouth has received outstanding results in the recent annual National Student Survey (NSS).

88% of final year students at Portsmouth said that they were satisfied with their course. The results put UoP up three places on last year's results, at 14th out of 90 universities.

The results also place the university as the best post-1992 university and the best rated university on the south coast, beating Southampton yet again.

University Vice-Chancellor John Craven said: "This is an outstanding achievement to be in the top 20 per cent nationally, best on the south coast and best post-92 university.

I am extremely proud of these results and grateful for the hard work across the University that goes into making our students satisfied with their experience here."

All final year students have the opportunity to take part in the survey and this year's response rate was 72% - well above the national average, making the results representative of the student view at Portsmouth.

The result of 88% overall satisfaction is a marked improvement from 2006 when only 79% of leavers were either satisfied or very satisfied with their course.

It is also pleasing to note that for the second year running the University exceeded the sector average for each of the sector groupings, which are: Teaching, Assesment and Feedback, Academic Support, Organisation and Management, Learning Resources and Personal Development.

The Education and Representation Officer at the Students Union joined the University in celebrating the results, however warned against resting on our laurels by saying

"These results are highly commendable and are just reward for all the hard work put in by all staff at the University.

Whilst these results are fantastic, the challenge now is to maintain the standard and continue pushing the University in improving areas such as assessment, feedback, organisation and management, which whilst being above the national average still cause issues for a number of students.

Since the release of these results I have discussed the analysis of these results with Dr Valda Bunker (Director of DCQE) and am confident that work will be done in these areas to improve".

Some of these improvements have already been seen with heavy investment from both the Students' Union and the University in the Course Representation system, and feedback and coursework receipts are being reviewed by the members of the University Learning and Teaching Committee.

Dr Valda Bunker, who conducted analysis on the results, said in a report to the University Learning and Teaching committee that "The challenge for 2009 will be to maintain our position.

Each year the sector as a whole shows improved levels of satisfaction. We have been able to keep above the sector in 2007 and 2008 but it will be even more challenging for 2009".

The next National Student Survey will take place in January 2009, so if you are in your final year make sure you watch out for the publicity and take part in the survey.

It really is your chance to praise your course or if necessary highlight areas which make you unhappy; either way it is your chance to invite change on your course, as every course wants to be like finance or politics, which both came in 1st place for overall satisfaction this year!