All eligible students will be emailed from Thursday 9 January by Ipsos, an independent survey research agency, which manages the survey on behalf of the Office for Students (OfS). The survey will remain open until Wednesday 30 April. We expect results from the survey to be released in July 2025.
Why does the NSS matter?
The NSS is an important way for students coming towards the end of their undergraduate courses to tell us about their experience at UCL. These insights and comments are instrumental in helping us to understand what is working well, shaping policies and guiding improvements in our departments and support services.The results are published nationally, including on the Discover Uni website to help prospective students make informed choices about where they will study. Institutions require a response rate of at least 50% for results to be published.
NSS feedback is entirely confidential, meaning students can share their views honestly and openly. Alongside quantitative results, departments and support services will receive open text comments from students participating in the NSS, which are valuable in highlighting best practice. These comments, along with the numerical scores, contribute to Faculty and Departmental Education Plans, to help guide improvements in education and student experience. You can find examples of changes inspired by previous student feedback on the You Shape UCL pages.
Key updates for 2025
Many of you will have been involved in promoting the NSS to colleagues and students in previous years. This year, there are two key changes. Firstly, we have introduced a prize draw to help encourage students to take part. Secondly, Ipsos will be sending another survey about sexual misconduct following each students’ completion of the NSS 2025.You can find more information about updates in the NSS Liaison Guidance on our Templates and Guides page.
Once students have completed the NSS, they will have the option to enter our prize draw.
20 students will win a graduation package that includes:
- 1 x graduation gown hire
- 2 x guest tickets
- 1 x studio portrait
- Postage and packaging - up to £29.95.
Please be aware that during the NSS period (sent to students 9 January to 30 April), the Office for Students is running a pilot survey of sexual misconduct. The survey will be offered to students by Ipsos after they have completed the NSS, but students do not have to take part. If a student does not wish to be presented with the opportunity to complete the sexual misconduct survey, they can email the Ipsos student helpline: thestudentsurvey@ipsos.com.
Students who would like to access support services through UCL can contact our team of expert wellbeing, disability and mental health staff who provide a safe, confidential and non-judgmental space to discuss any issues that may be affecting them. Please signpost students to the UCL support and wellbeing page and our support for those affected by harassment or sexual misconduct here.
We realise that discussing sensitive topics can be difficult and would like to remind you that UCL staff can access confidential, 24/7 mental health support with our Employee Assistance Programme: Staff Support Service.
How you can help
Use our resources!
There is at least one NSS Liaison Officer in each academic department with undergraduates, and they have received a comprehensive guide to promoting the survey locally.Staff can find NSS promotional materials including images for social media and PowerPoint templates on the Templates and Guides page.
- reminding students about the survey in during lectures or seminars or via Moodle
- promoting the NSS via social media channels
While we are allowed to promote the NSS and encourage students to take part, we should never try to influence how they respond - this is known as inappropriate influence. Please read the 2025 Help Card on Inappropriate Influence for more information.
Get creative with incentives
Some departments have invited their students to a session about the NSS and provided pizza, coffee or cake. An event like this must be voluntary and if you would like to include incentives, please.For more details, read Ipsos’ NSS 2025 Good Practice Guide.
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