Bristol SU Survey 2017 Summary

WE ASKED YOU YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT BRISTOL...

HERE’S WHAT YOU SAID!

BRISTOL SU SURVEY Bristol SU Survey Results

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“I’d like sport to cost less than My First-born child”

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The Bristol SU Survey gives us a glimpse of the varied experiences that make up the lives of Bristol students.

We look at a range of issues, from your education, to your housing, wellbeing and interests. We also ask how you think the SU is doing, and how we can deliver the best for you.

Here’s our summary of the key findings from this year’s survey.

Bristol SU Survey Results

Education

59% wanted more detailed feedback on their work

Education issues vary across different faculties and levels of study. But feedback and more access to study space were highlighted by students from all faculties.

Contact hours was an issue among Arts and Social Sciences & Law students.

These students were less likely to say their course was good value for money than students from other faculties. At Postgraduate Research level, fewer Arts and Social Science students said they have enough access to the resources they need than other students, with many picking out grants for conferences and study space as key issues.

54%

58% 73% 50%

wanted more access to study space

Faculty of Arts Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

said that more contact hours would improve your educational experience.

of you think your course is good value for money

Bristol SU Survey Results

Accommodation There was widespread dissatisfaction among students renting privately, with many students reporting:

high fees 50% of Bristol students

are dissatisfied with the cost of their accommodation

Mean cost of accommodation in the private sector was ÂŁ452 per month, excluding bills

Almost 1 in 4 of you were dissatisfied with the quality of your accommodation

Students renting with Bristol SU Lettings were much more likely to be satisfied with their accommodation

difficulty recovering deposits

1 in 3 students experienced financial hardship at University

landlord or agency dissatisfaction

ÂŁ5424 is the amount the average Bristol student living in the private sector is paying per year in rent, excluding any utilities and bills.

For many undergraduates this figure is much higher than their maintenance loan.

80% of students renting with Bristol SU Lettings would recommend them compared to 42% of students renting with other Bristol based letting agencies.

Bristol SU Survey Results

wellbeing Most of you said that your time at University had been good for your physical health, personal confidence and self-esteem.

47%

said their time at University had a positive impact on their physical health and wellbeing

However, when it came to mental health or wellbeing more of you recorded that University had a negative impact.

said their time at University has positively impacted their personal confidence and self esteem

59%

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Your reasons for this included:

Workload and assessments

Stress

What you felt would help your wellbeing:

You asked for:

• Supportive university staff members • Counselling service and student services • Friends, clubs and societies.

More pastoral support and more access to the counselling service. In 2017/18 the University is introducing a new tier of pastoral support to alleviate these concerns.

Feelings of isolation or difficulty making friends

56%

of you agreed Bristol SU had helped you improve your skills, wellbeing or undertake new experiences

Bristol SU Survey Results

What would you most like to see Bristol SU work on?

327 students told us what they’d like to see the SU working on over the next year.

Your ideas included anything from (in your words) “making sport cost less than your first born child”, to campaigns.

Run more events and make the SU more of a social hub

Focus on “bread and butter” issues: your course, accommodation & wellbeing

Communicate more about what we’re working on

You’d like us Continue our mental health and wellbeing campaigns

Campaign on a range of issues, including homelessness and tuition fees

to

Make sport more accessible, flexible and cheap

Improve the room booking system

Create more space for activities

Bristol SU Survey Results

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So what’s next?

Every word you wrote - every idea, every frustration - has been passed on to the relevant team, so that they can work with your feedback over the next year.

Your elected officers will also see the findings, so they can represent your interests at committees and meetings.

But we’re not waiting - we’re already working with your feedback.

In September we introduced a new and improved sports pass.

Bristol SU and The Centre for Sport Exercise and Health have worked hard to create a new model that is cheaper and more flexible.

We’ve reviewed our room bookings system, and trialled a new allocation system for clubs and societies.

We ran our biggest Welcome Week programme yet, with a whole range of events, suited to all sorts of interests!

We introduced our new Wellbeing Network, open to all students, so you’re supported to run events and campaigns on the wellbeing issues that matter to you.

Bristol SU Survey Results

Bristol SU Survey Results