As in previous years, Radboud University students will continue to be satisfied with their study programmes on average in 2025. Overall satisfaction, atmosphere, and the likelihood that students would choose the same programme again have been rated very positively and above the national average for many years. Students also feel that the university is a safe environment to a large extent. Themes that require ongoing attention are study load and room for reflection.
This is evident from the National Student Survey, the annual nationwide survey of student satisfaction. All students in higher education are invited in the spring to give their opinion about their study programme and university. This year, 7001 students from Radboud University completed the survey. The Executive Board and the study programmes would like to thank all students for their feedback. We are delighted that students have been rating many aspects of their studies positively for many years. Thanks to this feedback, the university and study programmes can focus on areas that deserve extra attention.
Social safety further strengthened, but attention remains necessary
Students feel very much at home on campus and safe to be themselves. With an average rating of 8.35, social safety at Radboud University is rated even higher than in previous years. This is a great result, given the efforts made in recent years to promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, as well as social safety, as important strategic themes at our university. At the same time, the results show that continued attention is needed; 44% of students experience one or more forms of undesirable behaviour, especially gossip and exclusion. Through the Prevent-Care-Cure project, the university is continuing to work on a safe social culture, strengthening the structure of the organisation, and setting up an effective reporting system.
In addition to students generally feeling safe, we distinguish ourselves as a university particularly in terms of the atmosphere, student support, involvement and contact, lecturers, and wellbeing. In addition, the content of the programmes is rated (very) positively. The level and challenge of the programmes are also highly regarded.
Radboud University is working on better study load
According to students, the main area for improvement is the study load, particularly the distribution of the study load over the academic year and the extent to which the credits correspond to the actual study load. Although there has been some improvement, the results still underline the importance of continuing to focus on this issue.
Meanwhile, Radboud University is working in various ways to improve and better distribute the study load. For example, the Project Curriculum Information System, which was launched last year, focuses on achieving a better balance in the study load and also on other methods of assessment. In addition, we are working on a better distribution of teaching and exam weeks in the academic year schedule, with the aim of creating space in the schedule by also reducing the number of assessments. The study load also occupies a prominent place in the current strategy development.
More emphasis on reflection in studies and attention to professional careers
Reflection is one of Radboud University's core values and therefore occupies a prominent place in its new educational vision. However, the results of the National Student Survey show that, from the students' point of view, the theme of reflection does not yet have a prominent place in all aspects of the study programme. This applies in particular to questioning one's own views and incorporating multiple perspectives into discussions or assignments. According to students, the course material is also still relatively disconnected from social issues in a number of areas.
Under the leadership of the vice-deans for education, a strategic implementation agenda has been drawn up to translate these ambitions into practice. For example, ways are being developed to integrate social themes more explicitly into education and make them more visible, for example during Open Days.
In addition, student appreciation of the theme of career relevance has lagged behind for several years, despite a slight increase over the last three years. Radboud University is developing all kinds of activities, including through Radboud Career Service, to strengthen the relationship between students and their careers.
View results per study programme
The results of the 2025 National Student Survey can be viewed in more detail, including per faculty or study programme and in comparison with other universities, via this interactive dashboard. More information can also be found on the Institutional Research intranet page, such as exactly which questions were asked and fact sheets per study programme.