Almost 90% of students can be themselves at TU Delft, survey results show

Of the students at universities in the Netherlands, 81.3% are generally satisfied and only 4.6% dissatisfied. Four years ago that was 78.6% against 6.2%. These were the findings of the annual National Student Survey (in Dutch) which were issued on Tuesday. Students at universities of applied sciences are also more satisfied than four years ago (68.7% compared to 66.4%).

The general satisfaction rate of students at TU Delft was 3.9 (on a scale of 1 to 5). This is comparable to the average rate of university education students and a bit higher than the national average rate of 3.8 for both universities of applied sciences and universities. TU Delft scores the same or a little higher than universities in the Netherlands in general in almost all areas. Only the ‘studiability’ – the degree to which a degree programme can be followed or completed – remains a little behind the average figure (3.8 instead of the average 3.9 for universities).

Being oneself

The questionnaire shows that most of the respondents by far feel safe enough to be themselves at their institutions. The national figure was 85.5% of university and university of applied sciences students. TU Delft scored 88.8%. In contrast, a small group do not feel safe enough to be themselves. This is now 3.4% compared to 3.9% four years ago. This is 3% at TU Delft.

The scores are rising, but are lower than before the pandemic

The results seem to have suffered over the past few years under the Covid crisis when everything had to be done remotely. The figures are rising again, both at universities of applied sciences and universities. That said, they are still quite a bit lower than the number of points before the pandemic. The ‘general’ satisfaction rates for degree programmes were then 84% among university students and 73% among university of applied sciences students. A point of note is that the questionnaire was revised in the interim period so that the questionnaire producers are reluctant to draw this conclusion themselves.

Comparing degree programmes

This year, almost 260,000 students filled in a questionnaire about their degree programmes. This equates to almost one of three students in higher education rating their teachers, facilities, atmosphere and so on. At TU Delft, 7,214 students filled in the questionnaire. This is 27.5% of the total student body of 26,196 students.

The Landelijk Centrum Studiekeuze (National centre for choosing studies) ran the questionnaire for the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. Its advisory council comprises representatives of universities, universities of applied sciences, private institutions, and the ISO (Dutch National Student Association) and LSVb (Dutch Student Union).

The results will help prospective students compare degree programmes and institutions on website like the Studiekeuze123 (in Dutch) or in the ‘Keuzegids’ guide for higher education. Degree programmes can also use the findings to reflect on their own practices.

HOP, Bas Belleman/Delta, Kim Bakker