The university-wide student survey, conducted every five years, is a primary tool for collecting student feedback on the quality of instruction and student learning. It plays an important role in assuring and improving the standards of our academic programs. The active participation of many students in the 2022/23 survey provided valuable insights into their needs, challenges, and suggestions. In order to continuously improve the student experience at Goethe University and to encourage broad student participation, it is essential to evaluate the survey’s key findings.
As part of the evaluation process, all students (excluding doctoral and Studienkolleg students) were personally invited via email to take part in the online survey. A total of 7,765 students (19% of the invited students) participated. The representativeness of the survey was confirmed by the so-called "absolute relative bias," determined by comparing the participants with the total student population.
Results show that 72 percent of students work alongside their studies. However, 79 percent rely on financial support from family or partners. For students, the most common living situation is living with parents or other relatives (34%), followed by shared accommodations (23%) and living alone (21%). Fifty-six percent of respondents say they are behind schedule with their degree program, although this depends heavily on the type of degree they are pursuing. Nevertheless, 84 percent of students are satisfied with their studies and more than 89 percent would recommend studying at Goethe University to others.
Stressful factors for students include exam pressure, time pressure, and performance requirements. Personal stress factors range from doubts about one's own abilities, the difficulty of balancing work and academic life, and a lack of social interaction with fellow students.
The ability to study and successfully complete a degree is greatly influenced by the overall university environment. The majority of respondents rated the design of their degree program positively (76%) and felt well prepared to meet future challenges (79%).
Students positively assess the ad hoc digitalization of recent semesters. Eighty-five percent of respondents rated personalized online courses as helpful, while 85 percent rated as good the use of new learning technologies.
