Chemical Engineering is named Britain’s best, while students report a better experience across every area of university life.
Brunel University of London has six subjects ranked in the UK’s top 10, with Chemical Engineering ranked the best in Britain, according to the latest National Student Survey (NSS).
The independent survey of final-year students found Brunel improved across every measure of the student experience, from teaching and learning to academic support and assessment. Several subjects also made significant gains in the national survey.
Chemical Engineering was ranked first in the UK. Politics placed second, Media and Communications third, Anthropology fifth, Business Computing sixth and Civil Engineering tenth. Politics has also achieved a perfect score for freedom of speech for the second consecutive year.
Several subjects are among London's highest-rated courses. Anthropology and Physiotherapy rank first in the capital, while Occupational Therapy and Media and Communications rank second. English, Film and Television Studies and Biomedical Sciences all rank third.
The strongest performances span engineering, health, politics, media and the social sciences, demonstrating excellence across a broad range of disciplines.
Some subjects made a remarkable turnaround in student experience. Occupational Therapy climbed 30 places in a year, while Law rose 38 places nationally. Assessment and feedback, an area that has challenged universities across the UK, also improved at Brunel. Students gave it an 83 per cent positive rating, lifting the University 26 places since the revised NSS was introduced in 2023.
Across all subjects, nearly nine in ten students said they felt free to express their ideas, opinions and beliefs.
Professor Claire Turner, Pro Vice-Chancellor Education at Brunel, said: “We're delighted to see six Brunel subjects ranked among the UK's top 10, with Chemical Engineering achieving the number one position nationally. These results reflect the dedication of colleagues across the University who have listened carefully to student feedback and worked hard to continually improve the learning experience.
“While there's plenty to celebrate, we're equally focused on what comes next. Students rightly expect us to keep raising standards, and these results help us understand where we're succeeding and where we can improve further.”
The National Student Survey asks final-year undergraduates across the UK about their experience of teaching, learning, assessment, academic support and university life. Its results are widely used by prospective students and their families when comparing courses and universities.
For prospective students, these latest results show that Brunel is delivering an education and student experience that many of its students rate among the very best in the UK.