Posted: 24 July 2025
DN Colleges Group (DNCG) are proud to share the high praise received from its higher education students in the latest National Student Survey (NSS 2025), with results showing the group outperforming both sector and national averages across most key areas.
With a sample of both full-time and part-time students taking part in the annual survey, sharing feedback on teaching quality, academic support, assessment and feedback, and more, their responses paint a picture of a positive and supportive learning environment that is helping students succeed from within the local community surrounding University Campus Doncaster (UCDon) and University Campus North Lincolnshire (UCNL).
Achieving a 92.9% satisfaction rate (6% higher than sector and England), the survey’s ‘Teaching on my Course’ thread also gathered many positive comments in relation to staff explanations, engagement rates and intellectual stimulation, with each strand scoring 92%+ overall.
‘Learning Opportunities’ wise, UCNL and UCDon also achieved a 7.2% collective higher rate than sector, while further scoring strongly when it came to allowing students to build upon pre-existing learning and developing skills for future use.
When benchmarked against local competitor colleges and awarding higher education institutions, DNCG consistently recorded higher satisfaction scores across the majority of themes, reinforcing its appeal as local institutions where students can pursue their degrees while staying connected to family, friends and existing work commitments.
Commenting on the results, Daniel Bown, Assistant Principal of Higher Education at DNCG, said: “I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved this year. Our outstanding National Student Survey results are a true reflection of the dedication and talent of our exceptional staff, whose commitment to excellence creates a learning environment where students can truly thrive.”
DN Colleges Group National Student Survey Score Breakdown
Core Themes:
- Teaching Quality: 92.9% satisfaction (6% above sector average)
- Concepts clearly explained: 96.7%
- Subjects engaging: 92.6%
- Learning Opportunities: 91.5%
- Assessment & Feedback: 91.3% (10.4% above sector average)
- Academic Support: 90.7%
- Organisation & Management: 81.4% (5% increase from previous year)
- Learning Resources: 82%
- Student Voice: 83.5% (1.5% increase from NSS24, >6% above sector, >5.9% above national average)
Additional Areas:
- Freedom of Expression: 95.5% (7.2% above sector/national averages)
- Mental Health Info Communication: 82.4%
- Students’ Union Representation: 76.6% (above national benchmarks)
About the National Student Survey
The NSS is an annual, UK-wide survey of final-year students in higher and further education. It captures feedback on students’ academic experience and plays a vital role in helping prospective students make informed choices. It also gives institutions valuable insights to enhance their offerings and better support learners.
A comprehensive breakdown of the National Student Survey 2025 data is available to view here.
