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SSE tops the rankings in NSS Results for 2026

In the 2026 National Student Survey (NSS) survey, The School of Society and Environment’s (SSE) departments achieved top rankings in an impressive range of NSS measures for both Russel Group Universities and London Universities.

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Photo from 2026 Graduation Ceremony and celebration.

SSE also came top of Queen Mary for an impressive three out of five TEF measures; Teaching, Academic Support and Assessment and Feedback.

The NSS is an official survey that measures graduating students’ experience on everything from academic teaching, access to resources and equipment, to assessment and student voice.

In the 2026 NSS survey SSE achieved:

  • 93.9% positive responses for Academic Support
  • 93.5% positive responses for Organisation and Management
  • 5 – 8% increase in score for all other measures

For its programmes, the Department of History achieved: 

  • 1st in the Russell Group AND 1st in London for Learning Opportunities. 
  • 1st in the Russell Group AND 1st in London for Assessment and Feedback. 
  • 1st in the Russell Group (100% positivity) for “How good are teaching staff at explaining things” AND “How often do teaching staff make the subject engaging.” 

For its programmes, the Department of Geography Environmental Science (GES) achieved: 

  • 1st in the Russell Group for learning opportunities, academic support, assessment and feedback, organisation and management, and student voice.
  • 1st in London for 6 out of 7 NSS themes: teaching, learning opportunities, academic support, learning resources, organisation and management, and student voice.
  • 2nd in the Russell Group for teaching quality and learning resources.

For its programmes, the Department of Sociology, Politics and International Relations (SPIR) achieved: 

  • 1st in London for Assessment and Feedback. 
  • 2nd in London for Teaching and Learning. 
  • An 11% leap to 89% positive responses for 'How often do teaching staff make the subject engaging?’
The NSS measures graduating students’ experience on everything from academic teaching, access to resources and equipment, to assessment and student voice.

Martin Coward, Head of School said: “These NSS results that put History in the top spot in London in two categories, and top in the Russell Group in three, GES in the leading position for Russell Group Universities in five categories, and six for London, and SPIR taking top and second place in two categories demonstrates that Queen Mary, is the best place in London to study subjects that investigate and interrogate our society and environment.”

“This year’s NSS results represent sustained improvement year-on-year and showcase our teaching and academic staff’s collective efforts to lay the foundations of SSE as Queen Mary’s newest school.”

“I would particularly like to thank our Professional Services colleagues in the Education and Quality team, the Student Support Team, and Digital Learning Team who have worked tirelessly through this first year of SSE, without them these results would not have been possible.”

 

 

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