Undergraduate Student Survey Theme and Category Structure

Darllen yn Gymraeg

Coming up with a good categorisation structure for your student comments is always a challenge, and something we are constantly working on at Student Voice. Below we share our constantly evolving categorisation structure that currently encompasses 44 categories of student comment under 9 high level themes. The themes cover a wide range of teaching and student experience topics as well as transient issues such as strikes and COVID.

We can adopt such a comprehensive set of categories at Student Voice because our machine-learning powered classifiers automate the process but even if you are labelling by hand then hopefully the below will give you some inspiration.

The Teaching On My Course

Delivery Of Teaching
Comments relating to how teaching is delivered, including type and variety of teaching sessions

Teaching Staff
Comments specifically relating to teaching staff, i.e. lecturers, professors, project supervisors, etc

Remote Learning
Comments relating to quality of teaching delivered remotely and online
Learning Opportunities

Type And Breadth Of Course Content
Comments about the specific content of the course, including module content, structure of the course etc

Contact Time
Comments relating to the amount of contact received

Group Size / Ssrs
Comments relating to size of classes, number of students per staff member, student:staff ratios, etc

Module Choice / Variety
Comments surrounding the variety or choice of modules, including the procedure for choosing modules

Placements/ Fieldwork/ Trips
Comments relating to placements or fieldwork (including clinical placements)
Assessment And Feedback

Assessment Methods
Comments relating to assessment methods

Dissertation
Comments about dissertation/final year project

Feedback
Comments relating to quality and speed of feedback to students

Marking Criteria
Comments relating to marking methods and criteria
Academic Support

Availability Of Teaching Staff
Comments relating to the availability of lecturers and other teaching staff, i.e. their office hours

Communication With Supervisor, Lecturer, Tutor
Comments relating to communication between students and teaching staff

Student Support
Comments surrounding the support a student receives here, including academic support, pastoral support and disability support

Personal Tutor
Comments relating to the personal tutor system
Organisation And Management

Communication About Course And Teaching
Comments relating to clarity of content, workload, course booklet, handbook

Induction, Start Of Course Support
Comments relating to support and induction when students first join the university

Organisation, Management Of Course
General comments relating to organisation, administration or management of the course

Scheduling/ Timetabling
General comments about the timetabling and scheduling of assignments

Workload
Comments relating to the amount of workload throughout the programme - including exam timetabling and spacing of deadlines

Year Abroad
General comments about the year abroad / study abroad aspect of programmes.
Learning Resources

General Facilities
Comments about the University's facilities in general - e.g. catering, buildings, sports facilities, accommodation etc.

It Facilities
Comments about the University's IT facilities, including network access, availability of computers, printers, etc

Learning Resources
General comments about academia-related learning resources, e.g. lecture material, online material, or other general learning resources

Library
Comments relating to any of the University's library facilities

Study Space
General comments about the provision of / lack of available space for academic purposes
Learning Community

Opportunities To Work With Other Students
Comments relating to working with others on the course

Career Guidance, Support
Comments about careers prospects, employability, or the careers service at the University

Extra-curricular Activities
Comments about the social / sporting activities outside academia, and related facilities.

Student Life
General comments about student life overall

Personal Development
Comments about how the University has aided personal development of the student
Student Voice

Students' Unions
Comments relating to the Students' Unions / Guild

Student Voice
Comments regarding students' feedback being acted on/opportunity to provide feedback on course
Others

Accommodation
Comments relating to accommodation

Campus / City / Location
Comments about the campus, the city, or the location of the University

Costs / Value For Money
Comments about the cost of University or whether value for money is achieved

Covid-19
Comments relating to how the University has handled lockdown, including COVID-19 related mitigation and student support

Graduation
Comments surrounding the change in graduation procedures / venues for the academic year

Internationalisation
Comments surrounding the number of international students / lecturers in the University

Non-academic Staff
Comments specifically relating to non-academic staff, i.e. administrative staff, support staff, etc

Racism/equality
Comments relating to racist/other discriminatory incidences/culture/practices or their handling by the university

Strike Action
Comments relating specifically to impacts as a result of strike action by university employees

Type Of Students
Comments relating to the 'type of student' at the Institution

See how topics are used in the worked example · Follow the analysing comments pathway