Excellence in teaching quality

What our students say

Over the years UWE has gained a reputation for excellent teaching standards, and feedback from our students shows that our approach to education is the right one. In the most recent National Student Survey UWE appeared in the top 12 in nearly half the subject areas covered by the survey. According to our students our top ten subjects are:

• Film and Philosophy
• Forensic Science
• Biology
• Creative Arts and Design
• Building and Planning
• Psychology
• Music Technology
• Animal Science
• Physiotherapy
• Diagnostic imaging and Radiotherapy

Teaching Quality Assessments

Bristol UWE has an excellent and well-deserved reputation for quality teaching reinforced by its teaching assessment record.

The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) in its programme of subject review assessed the quality of the teaching in universities and higher education colleges. Six aspects of teaching and learning were assessed on a four-point scale, giving a potential maximum score of 24. Bristol UWE scored very highly in these assessments particularly in the following subjects:

• Art, Media and Design (22/24)
• Biological and Biomedical Sciences (24/24)
• Building and Quantity Surveying (21/24)
• Business and Management (23/24)
• Cultural and Media Studies (22/24)
• Economics (23/24)
• Education (24/24)
• Electronic Engineering (21/24)
• English (Excellent)
• French, German, Spanish and Linguistics (21/24)
• Land and Property Management (22/24)
• Law (Excellent)
• Mathematics, Statistics and Operational Research (21/24)
• Nursing and Midwifery (22/24)
• Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Radiography (21/24)
• Politics (21/24)
• Psychology (22/24)
• Sociology (23/24)
• Town and Country Planning and Housing (23/24)

The University's Legal Practice Course has continuously been graded as 'excellent' by the Legal Practice Course Board from 1999-2006. Since 2006 it has held the highest grading possible under the revised scheme, 'commendable practice' in all six areas of the programme.

Training the teachers

During their first year, all new teaching staff take a Professional Development Certificate in Higher Education. More experienced academics are also encouraged to take part in the Professional Development Programme. UWE was one of the first universities in the country to offer this kind of systematic staff development.

Research Assessment Exercise

In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise conducted by the Higher Education Funding Council for England with other UK higher education funding bodies, UWE was assessed on the basis of the percentage of its research considered to be either world leading or internationally excellent:

• Biomedical Sciences - 65%
• Art and Design - 60%
• Communication, Cultural and Media Studies - 60%
• General Engineering - 55%
• Town and Country Planning - 50%
• Architecture and Built Environment - 45%
• Computer Science - 45%
• Linguistics - 45%
• Plant Science - 45%
• Accounting and Finance - 40%
• History - 40%
• Nursing and Midwifery - 40%
• Business and Management Studies - 30%
• English - 30%
• Social Work and Social Policy - 25%
• Geography and Environmental Studies - 25%
• Law - 20%
• Education - 15%
• Politics - 15%
• Sociology - 15%
• Applied Mathematics - 10%

For full information about research and consultancy at UWE Bristol see our research pages.