Royal College of Music excels in National Student Survey
Thursday 11 July 2024
The Royal College of Music (RCM) achieved outstanding results in the annual National Student Survey (NSS), excelling in teaching quality, learning opportunities and student voice.
The NSS is an annual survey of final year undergraduates studying in the UK, gathering students’ opinions on the quality of their courses and student experience. The Royal College of Music received positive feedback across all areas, with notable success related to teaching quality, learning opportunities and student voice.
Dr Diana Salazar, Director of Programmes, comments: ‘The Royal College of Music has achieved positivity scores that exceed sector norms, demonstrating our commitment to providing outstanding teaching, resources, and support for every student at the College. This year it’s especially encouraging to see how positively students feel about the outstanding quality of teaching at the College, the richness of the learning opportunities on offer, and the way in which our progressive curriculum equips them with skills for their future. It’s also clear that RCM students appreciate the way in which College staff listen to and value the student voice, which is at the heart of our creative community.’
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Sector-leading learning opportunities
The Royal College of Music achieved the top score in the conservatoire sector for learning opportunities. Students praised the courses for effectively integrating ideas from various topics and providing a balance of directed and independent study. Nearly 90% of respondents agreed that their course had positively developed their knowledge and future skills, reflecting the College’s commitment to encouraging qualities of confidence and versatility in the next generation of musicians.
Inspirational teachers
Inspirational teaching is at the heart of the Royal College of Music’s ethos. Over 93% of RCM students who responded found their teaching staff made subjects engaging and clearly explained course content.
Excellence in support and student voice
The College also scored highly in the areas of student voice, with a significant percentage of students acknowledging the opportunities to provide course feedback, and a majority felt that their opinions are valued by staff. The College also received the top conservatoire sector mark for the organisation and communication of the courses, with 90% recognising that teaching staff were easily contactable and supportive.
Top ranking for Royal College of Music Library
The Royal College of Music Library once again received the top mark for conservatoires and one of the highest marks for all UK universities with a score of 96%. This reflects the College’s wealth of inspiring and unique resource materials, online services and learning spaces, crucial to students’ learning.
Overall, these positive results highlight the Royal College of Music’s dedication to creating an outstanding educational environment and its commitment to excellence.
The Royal College of Music is ranked the top global institution for music and performing arts in the prestigious QS World University Rankings (2024, 2023, 2022) and achieved the highest ranking of ‘Gold’ in the latest Teaching Excellence Framework.
