Class of 2024 t-shirts in production. Design by Madeleine Appleby.

The National Student Survey (NSS) is an annual, UK-wide survey of final year undergraduates. Each year we encourage final year students to tell the world about their time at Sussex, to help future students decide what and where to study.

Last week the NSS 2024 results were published by the Office for Students. The University of Sussex improved its positivity ratings in six out of seven themed categories, including a rise of 13 places to 50th for academic support and 21 places for learning opportunities. Additionally, 92.6% of Sussex students who responded said teaching staff are good at explaining their subjects. Meanwhile, in the question, ‘How well does the students' union (association or guild) represent students' academic interests?’, the University of Sussex Students’ Union has improved by 2.2% to 74.5% – a rise of 14 places, from 68th to 54th, in comparison with others nationally. Read last week’s news story for more detail on the results.

Once again, we would like to thank every student who took part in the NSS. It is an important way for our students to share their experiences, and we are really pleased with the higher response rate this year. In large part the good level of engagement reflects the efforts made by our Schools, staff and wider community to raise awareness of the survey.

Read on for a look back at our NSS 2024 campaign.

Graduation package prize winners

Ten final year students won graduation packages worth £150 for taking part in the NSS. Each prize covered the cost of gown hire, two guest tickets and a basic photography package.

When asked why he had taken part in the NSS, winner Jurgen Forster said: “I was motivated to speak about my experience, hoping that it would help potential students gain some insight into a student's life.” Jurgen will be taking his mother and brother to graduation.

Exclusive ‘Class of 2024’ t-shirts

As a thank you for taking part in the NSS, eligible students could collect a free t-shirt on campus. During the Spring term, student NSS helpers spoke to finalists and gave out t-shirts at stalls in the Student Centre and the Library.

The front of the t-shirt design used a lino print of the Arts A building by Sussex alumna and staff member Madeleine Appleby, while text on the back of the design said ‘Class of 2024’ – offering a unique memento to our undergraduates finishing their studies this year.

The organic cotton t-shirts were produced by Teemill, a UK-based print-on-demand supplier, in factories powered by renewable energy. Teemill uses a circular model, creating products that are designed to be sent back and remade into new ones once they are worn out, keeping materials out of landfill.

Using these practices, Teemill estimates we saved the following resources:

• 1,228,500 litres of water – about the same amount of water an average household uses in 34 years
• 336kg of CO2 – similar to the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by around 15 mature trees in a year, helping us cut down our carbon footprint
• 82kg of plastic – similar to keeping 4,000 plastic bottles out of landfills and oceans.

Our strategic goal is for Sussex to be one of the most sustainable universities in the world, and we will show global leadership in all forms of sustainability at a local, regional, national and international level.

Charity donations

Last month, the University donated £1 to charity for every Sussex student that participated in the 2024 NSS. We split this donation between charities chosen by students in a poll sent out in December 2023:

• UNICEF – £956 (32% of the vote)
• Student Minds – £717 (24% of the vote)
• Rockinghorse Children’s Charity – £657 (22% of the vote)
• Surfers Against Sewage – £448 (15% of the vote)
• Little Green Pig – £209 (7% of the vote)

Kate Mitchell, Fundraising and Development Manager for Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity, said: “We are truly grateful for the University of Sussex’s generous donation of £717 on behalf of respondents to the National Student Survey! Your incredible support will enable Student Minds to continue improving university communities so that no student is held back by their mental health – thank you.”

Emma Henderson, Supporter Engagement Manager at Rockinghorse Children’s Charity, said: “This donation from the University of Sussex is fantastic and will really help towards our support of babies, children and young people across Sussex. We fundraise to help tiny premature babies struggling to breathe, right up to 17-year-olds battling serious mental health issues. Being able to offer this help simply wouldn’t be possible without support like this.”

Students can find more information about the National Student Survey on the Student Hub.