The 2011 results of the national taught and research postgraduate experience surveys are now available in new NUS briefings.
The Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) and the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) are run by the Higher Education Academy. UK higher education institutions are invited to opt in to the surveys.
This year PRES surveyed students in 102 institutions and PTES surveyed students in 80 institutions.
PTES will be running again in 2012 and the call for expressions of interest is now open. Visit the Higher Education Academy's PTES page for more information.
Next steps
1. Find out if your institution ran PRES or PTES, if you do not know already
2. Compare your institution's results with the national picture. You can also compare with similar institutions if your institution particpates in a benchmarking club.
3. Look at the experiences of different subjects, part-time students and international students. Remember you can also cross-reference NSS and PTES.
4. Work with students to identify the issues that need your attention and work with your institution to determine how postgraduate students' experience could be improved
5. Encourage your institution to sign up to PTES 2012 and consider how you can help them promote PTES to postgraduate students
For advice and support on postgraduate experience surveys, including advice about who to contact in your institution about PTES, contact the NUS postgraduate campaign.
The Higher Education Academy has produced two major reports on PRES and PTES results.
Read the full PTES report
Read the full PRES report