Solution

Analyse your NSS own-question comments with the same rigour as core NSS

Analyse institution-specific NSS open questions alongside core NSS comments so local priorities are not left out.

Student Voice Analytics can analyse institution-specific NSS open questions alongside standard NSS comments. Local questions can be classified, searched, summarised, and linked to action planning.

Discuss your survey

Discuss the source data, reporting question, outputs and delivery window.

Who this is for

Survey teams, planning teams, quality leads, and senior education leaders.

Why it matters

Own questions often capture strategic priorities that standard NSS items do not cover. If those comments are analysed manually or separately, the institution can lose the connection between local priorities and the wider evidence base.

What teams get

Bring local priorities into the same analysis

Own-question comments can be included with core NSS open text, giving teams a fuller picture of student experience.

Use flexible analysis for institution-specific topics

Search and thematic review can handle local questions about strategy, services, campuses, or new initiatives.

Connect local questions to action planning

Outputs can show which local issues are raised, how students describe them, and who needs to respond.

How it works

Import own-question comments with the rest of the NSS feedback file.
Classify where comments match existing HE categories and search for local themes.
Summarise the results by question, theme, sentiment, and group.
Use the evidence in local action plans and senior briefings.

Outputs

Own-question comment summaries.
Local theme and sentiment analysis.
Searchable evidence for strategic priorities.
Combined NSS reporting across core and local questions.

Governance and evidence quality

Agree the survey, questions, reporting populations and intended audience before analysis.
Keep category definitions, analysis versions and denominators with the output.
Review relevant comments and ambiguous cases alongside the summary.
Agree data handling, access and the level of detail appropriate for each audience.

FAQs

Can own-question comments use different themes?

Yes. They can use the HE taxonomy where appropriate and additional analysis for local topics that need separate treatment.

Can own-question results be compared with core NSS comments?

Yes, where the topics overlap or where teams need to understand how local questions add context.

Can own-question analysis be included in Excel packs?

Yes. It can be included in self-contained workbooks, reports, and BI-ready exports.

See the workflow with your team

Discuss the source data, reporting question and outputs your team needs. Explore the worked example before agreeing the scope and delivery window.