Thank you to everyone who participated in the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey earlier this year. This sector-wide survey provides important data and insights about your experience as a postgraduate researcher (PGR) at Sussex. We take part in PRES on a biennial basis and will use your feedback to guide our focus for this and the next academic year.
We are delighted that 2025 saw an improvement in overall satisfaction at Sussex with 82% positive responses, further building on improvements in 2021 and 2023. Sussex also saw satisfaction improve across all survey themes (Community, Professional Development, Progression, Research Culture, Research Skills, Resources, Supervision, and Support) compared to 2023.
It is particularly encouraging to see Sussex place in the top quartile (against all participating institutions in 2025) for Supervision, with positive responses sitting at 91%. Sussex was also positioned in the top quartile for Resources (on-campus) and Community, and placed above the sector average for Resources (online), Research Culture and Support.
While these results indicate welcome improvements in the PGR experience at Sussex, the survey also surfaced areas for focus going forward. We recognise the need to improve communication about the requirements and expectations around assessments and deadlines, and your and your supervisors’ respective responsibilities. Clearer articulation of the research and transferable skills you are acquiring during your registration is another area for refinement and focus. We have plans in place to address these areas and, in recognition that there is some variation in experience across the University, the Faculties have developed local action plans to address their specific survey feedback.
Thank you again for your engagement with the survey, and I would also like to express my appreciation to all the colleagues across the institution who have contributed to these important improvements in the PGR experience at Sussex.
Prof. Jeremy Niven,
Dean of the Sussex Researcher School