Students feel less study pressure

Fewer and fewer students feel that study pressure is too high, according to the National Student Survey. In addition, three-quarters of them are generally satisfied with their degree programme.

Around 75 percent of students in higher education are satisfied or very satisfied with their degree programme. Things are moving in the right direction: five years ago, during the coronavirus crisis, this was still 71.5 percent.

Students are particularly positive about the atmosphere within their degree programme: around 80 percent are positive. About three-quarters are also satisfied with the content. In addition, students often feel at home within their programme and safe to be themselves.

There is, however, a difference between university students and students at universities of applied sciences. University students are more positive in their assessment. This time, 82 percent of university students say they are satisfied, compared with 70 percent of students at universities of applied sciences.

Completed

This is evident from the responses in the National Student Survey, which was completed by 248 thousand students this spring. Almost one in three students in higher education took part.

This survey by the National Study Choice Centre is conducted on behalf of the Ministry of Education. Prospective students can use the results to compare degree programmes, for example on Studiekeuze123.nl. Universities of applied sciences and universities can use the results to improve their programmes.

Study pressure

A striking finding is the decline in the number of students experiencing excessive study pressure. In 2021, around 38 percent of students suffered from this, compared with 31 percent this year. University students experience slightly more pressure than students at universities of applied sciences.

According to students, teacher training programmes feel the most demanding: almost half believe the study pressure there is too high. Economics students experience the least pressure: only 24 percent feel this way.

Lecturers and assessments

Students are generally happy with their lecturers, although university students are more positive than students at universities of applied sciences. Almost ninety percent of university students consider their lecturers to be academically knowledgeable. At universities of applied sciences, this is around 75 percent.

Five years ago, however, students rated lecturers’ expertise slightly higher: 92 and 80 percent respectively (universities and universities of applied sciences) considered lecturers knowledgeable at that time.

Students see room for improvement in assessment and grading. Fewer than sixty percent are satisfied. Some believe the feedback on their assignments or assessments could be better. Students also say it is not always clear which criteria they are being assessed on.

In addition, students sometimes feel insufficiently prepared for their future careers. This applies more often to university students: almost a quarter believe the programme they are following does not sufficiently match their future professional career.