RECORD numbers of university students in the north are happy with the quality of their courses, new statistics reveal.
The latest National Student Survey (NSS) questioned around 300,000 students in the last year of their course.
Full details showed that St Mary's University College and the Open University were among the institutions that had some of the happiest students.
The annual survey asks students about every aspect of their university experience, including teaching, assessment, academic support and students' unions.
It produces influential higher education public information, giving final year students a powerful voice to help shape the future of their institution.
Overall, 78 per cent said good advice was available when they needed to make study choices. While 69 per cent of full-time students said they have received detailed comments on their work, 67 per cent said this feedback helped them clarify things they did not understand.
At St Mary's, 93 per cent declared themselves satisfied with the quality of their course. "This level of satisfaction has been consistently amongst the best nationwide over the past 10 years, and consistency is one of the key characteristics of a high-quality service. "The college has therefore earned a strong reputation in the higher education sector for placing a great emphasis on the pastoral care of its students, a focus which results from its clear mission as a faith-based institution in the Catholic tradition."
John D'Arcy, director of the OU in Ireland, said students were at the heart of the university's life and he was thrilled that they continued to rate it so highly. "As experts in the delivery of flexible, part-time higher education we are proud to be able to offer quality courses, support and access to education to people in Northern Ireland. It's our mission to continue to provide students here with the best study opportunities and experience possible," he said.