Whereas student opinions placed the university at number 32 in the previous table, the latest set, based on the responses of over 12,000 undergraduates nationwide, ranks Edinburgh at 43 out of the 101 institutions polled. The results, gathered between October 2007 and May 2008, were calculated based on weighted scores for everything from academic provisions to facilities to social life and atmosphere.

The rankings portray satisfaction ratings at Edinburgh as lagging behind those at the majority of other Scottish universities, with only two of the 11 included in the survey (Napier and Glasgow Caledonian) faring worse. St Andrews, meanwhile, came out 5^th and the Universities of Dundee and Glasgow achieved 12^th and 13^th place respectively.

Although it is worth noting that the results rely heavily on respondents’ personal expectations and standards, Edinburgh came out this year with below-average scores in three out of 21 areas, namely course structure, security and relationships with teaching staff.

The first of these three will come as no surprise to one third year studying Music Technology, who told The Student how an organisational lapse at the university left those on the course facing up to twice as much work during last semester as they will during the current term:

“During meetings with our Directors of Studies at the start of last semester, several music students were advised not to take 80 credits’ worth of classes as it would be too much work, whereas us Music Tech students were told we had no choice. As a result of the workload, we had to ask for extensions a couple of weeks before deadlines.

“While we were grateful for these extensions, it did however mean working all throughout the Christmas holidays, so our semester effectively finished last Friday.”

The department has since announced that this particular error will been addressed in time for next year’s programme.

There were, however, some more encouraging signs of improvement in the latest poll results. Responses gathered at the University of Edinburgh indicate that students are happier with industry connections, library facilities, course workload and the way in which the university caters for personal requirements.

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An Expected Defeat Matthew Brown (77.99.125.xxx) 2009-01-29 12:59:35 Sadly the worsening state of the University of Edinburgh's position in the rankings isn't at all surprising. Despite the argument sustained by tutors (as exemplified in the letter published in The Student several weeks ago), the fact is that the quality of teaching at this university isn't what it should be. Changes to the university system, especially regarding student feedback, are coming too little, too slow, and the argument that tutors, many of whom are PhD students, have to balance their own studies with assignment marking does not justify the poor levels of feedback students receive, particularly during first and second year. Though the university prides itself on its research, it is my belief that a university is foremost a teaching institution, and therefore the education of students should be the university's first priority. This requires dedicated teaching, not teaching which seems to be compromised by tutors' ad... Reply 2   0

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