NSE: students satisfied with programme, but for one-third, academic pressure is too high
Students at research universities and universities of applied sciences are positive about their lecturers’ expertise and the atmosphere within their programmes. Almost one-third report experiencing excessive academic pressure. These are the findings of the 2026 National Student Survey.
The National Student Survey (NSE) gives prospective students an idea of how students rate their degree programme and provides universities with information to help them improve their programmes. In Leiden, 23 per cent of students took the NSE, which was completed by a total of 248,000 students nationwide.
Results
Nationwide, students at research universities are overwhelmingly positive about their degree programme: 82 per cent say they are satisfied, a higher proportion than among students at universities of applied sciences.
Students particularly value the expertise of their lecturers, with 90 per cent at research universities rating this positively. The overall atmosphere within programmes is also seen as good, with a large majority of students feeling at home (73 per cent) and safe to be themselves (85 per cent). However, academic pressure remains a concern, although this proportion has decreased in recent years. For 34 per cent of students at research universities, the academic pressure is still too high.
Results analysis
The NSE results for our university will be analysed and added to the Education Dashboard, an easy way to find data on all our programmes. These results will be shared with the university community before the summer.
2,000 euros for LUF Children's Fund
For each Leiden student to complete the NSE, Leiden University donated €0.25 to the LUF Children’s Fund. This resulted in the impressive total of €1938.50 for research into young people with complex mental health needs. The cheque was presented by Lidwien Meulenkam, assessor for the Faculty of Archaeology, the faculty with the highest response rate this year.