RNCM Top Place for Manchester Students

The RNCM has been recognised as Manchester’s best higher education institution for overall student satisfaction according to the 2012 National Student Survey (NSS).

The results, published yesterday (September 27), gave the College an overall score of 87% placing it higher than the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Salford. 

Speaking of this year’s results, Acting Principal Professor Linda Merrick, says: ‘The NSS is a significant survey for higher education institutions, as it provides vital information as to how students assess the quality of teaching and learning they receive. We are delighted with this year’s results, which confirm the College’s commitment to improving the student experience.’

The strong percentage also meant the RNCM was third in a list including seven of the UK’s top conservatoires, aiding Manchester’s reputation as a vibrant cultural city. 
  
‘Manchester is home to the BBC Philharmonic, Hallé and Manchester Camerata, all of which offer placement schemes for RNCM students,’ explains Professor Merrick. ‘Through these placements, work experience with partners in the music industry, and the 350 recital and chamber music engagements we contract for students in the region, students graduate with excellent experience, important contacts, and strong employment prospects.’

Earlier in the year the RNCM was also acknowledged as the seventh busiest arts venue in the UK, topped only by significant establishments such as London’s Southbank Centre and Birmingham’s O2 Academy.

‘Knowing that London can be a highly competitive, and sometimes a quite daunting, place to be a music student, the ethos at the RNCM is on providing the highest quality tuition and training in a supportive but challenging environment,’ says Professor Merrick. ‘As the seventh busiest arts venue in the UK, we run a dynamic series of events throughout the year in our excellent facilities. This extends students’ public performance opportunities, while offering them the chance to experience live music-making of the highest quality on site and at minimal cost.  In short, we are proud of our distinctive offer, and the many strengths of being situated in Manchester.’

Conducted annually since 2005, the NSS is a national initiative running across all publically funded Higher Education Institutions in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the majority in Scotland. Through a series of 22 questions (scored 1 to 5), final year undergraduates are asked to provide feedback on seven areas of their degree programme: teaching, assessment and feedback, academic support, organisation and management, learning resources, personal development, and overall satisfaction.  

At the RNCM, each of the seven areas showed improvement, but students were particularly impressed with teaching, academic support and personal development. The overall result showed the College was also well above the Higher Education Council for England’s (HEFCE) benchmark of 78.  

26 September 2012