Arts University Plymouth students highlight creative freedom, timely feedback and course-level strengths in NSS 2026

<p dir="ltr">The National Student Survey asks final-year undergraduate students across the UK to share feedback on their course experience. At Arts University Plymouth, the published response rate was <strong>81%</strong>, with <strong>239 final-year undergraduate students</strong> taking part.</p> <p dir="ltr">Across the university, responding students gave particularly strong feedback for assessment, creative development and freedom of expression:</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>94.1%</strong> of responding students answered positively to the question <strong>“How often have you received assessment feedback on time?”</strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>91.6%</strong> answered positively to the question <strong>“To what extent have you had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth?”</strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>90.1%</strong> answered positively to the question <strong>“During your studies, how free did you feel to express your ideas, opinions, and beliefs?”</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">The highlights below focus on the areas where responding students gave particularly positive feedback, including assessment feedback, creative development, freedom of expression and selected course-level results.</p> <p dir="ltr">These responses point to parts of the student experience that matter strongly in a specialist creative university: feedback that arrives when students can still act on it, space to test ideas in depth, and the confidence to develop and express an independent creative voice.<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">The NSS 2026 results sit alongside separate recent recognition for <strong>student satisfaction</strong>, <strong>facilities</strong> and <strong>student support</strong> at Arts University Plymouth.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the <strong>Complete University Guide 2027</strong>, Arts University Plymouth was ranked <strong>6th in the UK for student satisfaction</strong>, keeping the specialist arts university in the national top ten for this measure for the second year running. The university was also named <strong>Winner for South West England in both Facilities and Student Support</strong> at the <strong>Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2026</strong>.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the NSS 2026, <strong>90.0%</strong> of responding students answered positively to the question <strong>“How good are teaching staff at explaining things?”</strong>, while <strong>89.3%</strong> answered positively to <strong>“How well have the library resources (e.g., books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?”</strong> and <strong>86.1%</strong> answered positively to <strong>“How well communicated was information about your university/college’s mental wellbeing support services?”</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Together, these individual responses point to areas that students particularly valued in the NSS 2026, including clear teaching, timely feedback, access to library resources and communication around mental wellbeing support.<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">Course-level NSS 2026 highlights include <strong><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-photography">BA (Hons) Photography</a></strong>, <strong><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-fine-art">BA (Hons) Fine Art</a></strong>, <strong><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-graphic-design">BA (Hons) Graphic Design</a></strong> and <strong><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-fashion-media-marketing">BA (Hons) Fashion Media &amp; Marketing</a></strong>, which each received particularly strong student feedback across multiple areas of the survey.</p> <p dir="ltr">Together, these four courses stood out in Arts University Plymouth’s course-level NSS 2026 results, with students giving particularly positive responses to specific questions on <strong>teaching</strong>, <strong>academic support</strong>, <strong>assessment</strong>, <strong>creative freedom</strong> and <strong>opportunities to develop their ideas in depth</strong>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The following course-level highlights show how students responded to specific areas of their learning experience:<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>BA (Hons) Photography</strong> received particularly strong feedback in the NSS 2026, with responding students giving <strong>100% positive responses to 18 of the 27 individual questions</strong>. Students responded positively at <strong>90% or above to 25 of the 27 questions</strong>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Photography also received <strong>100% positive responses</strong> to both questions in the NSS scale <strong>‘Academic support’</strong>: <strong>“How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?”</strong> and <strong>“How well have teaching staff supported your learning?”</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Responding BA (Hons) Photography students gave <strong>100% positive responses</strong> to questions including:</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Teaching and creative challenge</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">“How good are teaching staff at explaining things?”<br />“How often do teaching staff make the subject engaging?”<br />“How often does your course challenge you to achieve your best work?”</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Learning opportunities</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">“To what extent have you had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth?”<br />“To what extent does your course have the right balance of directed and independent study?”<br />“How well has your course developed your knowledge and skills that you think you will need for your future?”</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Assessment, feedback and support</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">“How clear were the marking criteria used to assess your work?”<br />“How well have assessments allowed you to demonstrate what you have learned?”<br />“How often have you received assessment feedback on time?”<br />“How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?”<br />“How well have teaching staff supported your learning?”</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Resources, student voice and freedom of expression</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">“How well were any changes to teaching on your course communicated?”<br />“How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning?”<br />“How easy is it to access subject specific resources (e.g., equipment, facilities, software) when you need them?”<br />“To what extent do you get the right opportunities to give feedback on your course?”<br />“To what extent are students’ opinions about the course valued by staff?”<br />“How well communicated was information about your university/college’s mental wellbeing support services?”<br />“During your studies, how free did you feel to express your ideas, opinions, and beliefs?”</p> <p dir="ltr">At Arts University Plymouth, <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-photography">BA (Hons) Photography </a>students develop creative and professional approaches to contemporary lens-based practice, supported by access to specialist studios, professional equipment, lighting, digital production facilities and location-based working. The NSS strengths in academic support, resources and creative development sit alongside a course experience shaped by studio practice, image-making, critical enquiry, professional development and opportunities to build a distinctive photographic voice.<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>BA (Hons) Fine Art</strong> students gave very strong feedback in the NSS 2026, with <strong>100% positive responses to 12 of the 27 individual questions</strong>. Students responded positively at <strong>90% or above to 20 of the 27 questions</strong>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Fine Art also received <strong>100% positive responses</strong> to both questions in the NSS scale <strong>‘Academic support’</strong>: <strong>“How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?”</strong> and <strong>“How well have teaching staff supported your learning?”</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Responding BA (Hons) Fine Art students gave <strong>100% positive responses</strong> to questions including:</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Learning opportunities</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">“To what extent have you had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth?”<br />“To what extent have you had the chance to bring together information and ideas from different topics?”</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Assessment and feedback</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">“How clear were the marking criteria used to assess your work?”<br />“How fair has the marking and assessment been on your course?”<br />“How often have you received assessment feedback on time?”<br />“How often does feedback help you to improve your work?”</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Academic support, organisation and student voice</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">“How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?”<br />“How well have teaching staff supported your learning?”<br />“How well organised is your course?”<br />“How well have the library resources (e.g., books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?”<br />“To what extent do you get the right opportunities to give feedback on your course?”<br />“How well communicated was information about your university/college’s mental wellbeing support services?”</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-fine-art">BA (Hons) Fine Art</a> at Arts University Plymouth supports students to develop individual, practice-led work across drawing, sound, glass, installation, video, clay, performance, painting, sculpture, projection mapping, wood and printmaking. Students work in a studio culture shaped by making, discussion and critical enquiry, with access to specialist workshops, large open-plan studios and MIRROR, the university’s public gallery for contemporary art.</p> <p dir="ltr">Recent Fine Art student and graduate success shows how this studio experience can lead to national recognition, public exhibition and work beyond the university. In 2026, <strong>BA (Hons) Fine Art student Polly Black was shortlisted for The Batsford Prize</strong> for <strong>Fog Horn</strong>, a mixed-media sculpture shown at Batsford Gallery in East London as part of the prize shortlist exhibition.</p> <p dir="ltr">Fine Art graduates were also represented through the <strong>Platform Graduate Award exhibition at MIRROR</strong>, including Arts University Plymouth graduates <strong>Sharon Douglas</strong>, <strong>Debbie Miller</strong> and <strong>Magdalena Tudor</strong> from BA (Hons) Fine Art. Graduate work from the course also featured in Arts University Plymouth’s <strong>Ones to Watch from Graduate Shows 2026</strong>, including <strong>Magda Tudor’s Transient States</strong>, an immersive environment using sound, projection and sculptural elements to explore identity, language, technology, architecture and memory.</p> <p dir="ltr">Fine Art students have also contributed to public and civic projects beyond the studio, including <strong>Ebb and Flow</strong>, a new remembrance sculpture created with Plymouth City Council, Babcock International Group and Never Such Innocence, with <strong>BA (Hons) Fine Art student and former Royal Marines Major Ant Hill MBE</strong> part of the creative team.</p> <p dir="ltr">Together, these examples reflect the strengths highlighted by students in the NSS 2026: a course environment where students can explore ideas in depth, bring together different subjects and methods, receive academic support, and develop a distinctive creative voice.<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>BA (Hons) Graphic Design</strong> students gave strong feedback across teaching, creative development and assessment, with positive responses also recorded for specific questions on learning resources, student voice and wellbeing communication. Responding students gave <strong>100% positive responses to 5 of the 27 individual questions</strong> and responded positively at <strong>90% or above to 20 of the 27 questions</strong>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Graphic Design students gave <strong>100% positive responses</strong> to the questions:</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>“To what extent have you had the chance to bring together information and ideas from different topics?”</strong><br /><strong>“How fair has the marking and assessment been on your course?”</strong><br /><strong>“How well have assessments allowed you to demonstrate what you have learned?”</strong><br /><strong>“To what extent do you get the right opportunities to give feedback on your course?”</strong><br /><strong>“How well communicated was information about your university/college’s mental wellbeing support services?”</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Students also responded positively at <strong>90.9%</strong> to questions about teaching, creative challenge, feedback, learning resources, student voice and freedom of expression.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-graphic-design">BA (Hons) Graphic Design </a>at Arts University Plymouth supports students to bring ideas together across branding, socially responsible campaigns, print practices, digital design, immersive technologies, ecological sustainability, emerging technologies and user-centred design. Students work on real client briefs and develop the confidence to respond to contemporary creative, cultural and industry challenges.</p> <p dir="ltr">Students benefit from opportunities connected to Plymouth Design Forum, Plymouth Art Weekender, D&amp;AD New Blood Festival and New Designers, alongside mentoring and visiting industry voices that help connect studio practice with professional design culture.<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>BA (Hons) Fashion Media &amp; Marketing</strong> students gave very strong feedback in the NSS 2026, with <strong>100% positive responses to 7 of the 27 individual questions</strong>. Students responded positively at <strong>90% or above to 17 of the 27 questions</strong>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Responding BA (Hons) Fashion Media &amp; Marketing students gave <strong>100% positive responses</strong> to questions including:</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Teaching, assessment and feedback</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">“How often does your course challenge you to achieve your best work?”<br />“How well have assessments allowed you to demonstrate what you have learned?”<br />“How often have you received assessment feedback on time?”<br />“How often does feedback help you to improve your work?”</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Student voice, support and creative freedom</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">“To what extent are students’ opinions about the course valued by staff?”<br />“How well communicated was information about your university/college’s mental wellbeing support services?”<br />“During your studies, how free did you feel to express your ideas, opinions, and beliefs?”</p> <p dir="ltr">Students also responded positively at <strong>92.9%</strong> to questions including <strong>“How good are teaching staff at explaining things?”</strong>, <strong>“How often do teaching staff make the subject engaging?”</strong>, <strong>“To what extent have you had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth?”</strong> and <strong>“How well does your course introduce subjects and skills in a way that builds on what you have already learned?”</strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-fashion-media-marketing">BA (Hons) Fashion Media &amp; Marketing</a> connects creative fashion communication with cultural insight, consumer behaviour, digital content and brand storytelling. Students develop conceptual, visual and communication skills through areas such as photography and moving image, analytics and market research, art direction and styling, social media strategies, trend forecasting, fashion publications, campaigns and product-launch planning.</p> <p dir="ltr">The NSS results highlight student confidence in the course’s creative challenge, assessment, feedback, student voice and freedom of expression.<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Professor Stephen Felmingham</strong>, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Artistic Research at Arts University Plymouth, said: “The National Student Survey gives students an important opportunity to tell us what is working well and where we need to keep improving. We are grateful to every student who took part, and we will use this feedback carefully with students, course teams and professional services.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This year’s results highlight clear strengths in areas that matter deeply in a specialist creative university: timely feedback, opportunities to explore ideas in depth, and the freedom for students to develop and express their own views. We are pleased to see notable course-level feedback in Photography, Fine Art, Graphic Design and Fashion Media &amp; Marketing, alongside positive responses across a number of our specialist courses.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We also know that NSS results are something to listen to. Student feedback helps shape the future of our courses, our studios and workshops, and the wider learning experience at Arts University Plymouth.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Applications for undergraduate study at Arts University Plymouth remain open for September 2026. Prospective students can <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses">explore course pages</a> or <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/open-days">book an Open Day</a> and see how students work across studios, workshops, labs, public exhibitions, industry projects and specialist creative facilities.<br /></p>