The University of Sussex is taking part in the 2026 Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) and Module Evaluation Questionnaires (MEQs).
PTES is a national survey coordinated by Advance HE, the national body for improving teaching and learning in universities. It is the only sector-wide survey focused on the experiences of postgraduate taught students.
Running from Wednesday 15 April to Friday 12 June 2026, the survey gives Masters students the opportunity to share feedback about their experience so far. Insights from the results will help us continue to improve the postgraduate student experience at Sussex.
Results from PTES also form part of the evidence base that supports Student Experience and Outcome Plans (SEOPs). More than 100 universities and colleges take part in the survey each year, helping to build a national picture of postgraduate student experiences.
You can learn more about PTES on the Student Hub.
Completing the survey
From Wednesday 15 April, eligible students will receive an email invitation to take part in the survey. The questionnaire takes around 15 minutes to complete.
The survey is confidential and responses are anonymous, meaning individual students cannot be identified in the results.
Reminder emails will be sent during the survey window to students who have not yet completed the survey.
Survey questions
The PTES questionnaire asks students about several aspects of their postgraduate experience, including:
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teaching and learning
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engagement
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community
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assessment and feedback
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organisation and management
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resources and support
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skills development
Can students opt out?
While the survey is not compulsory, students are strongly encouraged to take part as their feedback helps us understand what is working well and where improvements can be made.
Students who do not wish to participate can opt out by emailing Denise Cooper in Academic Services.
Incentives
Students who complete the survey by 12 June 2026 will be able to opt into a prize draw for the chance to win one of five graduation packages worth £150 each. Each package covers gown hire, two guest tickets and a basic photography package.
Results
Aggregate results from participating institutions are published by Advance HE, allowing universities to benchmark postgraduate experiences across the sector.
Module Evaluation Questionnaires now open
Module Evaluation Questionnaires (MEQs) for Spring modules opened today, Monday 13 April, and will remain open for three weeks.
MEQs are an important way for students to share feedback on their learning experience. The responses help tutors understand what is working well within modules and where improvements may be helpful, supporting ongoing development of teaching and learning at Sussex.
Students are encouraged to take a few minutes to complete the surveys. The questionnaires are anonymous and take around two to four minutes to complete for each module.
Eligible students have received an email with a personalised link to their module survey portal. They can also access the questionnaires through their module Canvas sites by selecting Module Evaluations, or by visiting the survey portal directly.
Student feedback from previous MEQ cycles has led to a range of improvements across the University, including:
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clearer assessment guidance and marking criteria
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improvements to Canvas design and reading list navigation
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changes to seminar and lecture formats
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the sharing of innovative teaching approaches across modules.
Colleagues are encouraged to remind students about the survey where appropriate, including during teaching sessions, to help ensure we receive representative and meaningful feedback.
Student participation plays an important role in supporting continuous improvement across teaching and the wider student experience.