UK research students are very satisfied overall, with four out of five postgraduate researchers rating their experience as having met or exceeded expectation, a report published by the Higher Education Academy has found. The Academy's report reviews three years of its Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES).
Views on skills development were among the most positive of all responses. Two out of three agreed that they had adequate opportunities to further develop their research skills and their transferable skills. Also supervision and thesis examination were rated as positive areas within students' overall experience.
Professor Sue Law, Director of Academic Practice, Higher Education Academy, said: ‘The Academy's postgraduate experience research offers a valuable benchmark, especially at a time when the Smith Review is taking place. It is excellent news that postgraduates have such a positive view of UK higher education.'
Dr Janet Metcalfe, Chair and Head of Vitae and member of the PRES Steering Group said: ‘It is clear from the 2009 PRES results that the Roberts' agenda and associated funding is having an impact with respondents reporting a significant improvement in the availability of opportunities to develop their transferable skills.'
For full results download the report ‘Research student experience: Lessons from PRES.'