Student surveys

The most important results:

• The German language classes for international students received the highest satisfaction ratings in Germany (of 36 universities).
• The University of Konstanz placed second in Germany (of 36) in their supervision and guidance regarding visa matters.
• Second place in Germany (of 35) in the category “inclusion by local students”
• Very high satisfaction in the survey area “teaching” for the categories “academic English” (98.6%) and “research orientation” (92.7%) when compared to other German universities.
• High satisfaction ratings for the services provided by the student advisory service (97.1%), the Communication, Information, Media Centre (KIM) (95.6%) and the “orientation programmes” (92.8%).
• The level of satisfaction with “accommodation cost” and “living costs” continues to fall short of expectations.

What are the trends?

Just after arriving:

• Increased satisfaction since 2013 with “enrolment” (85% to 88%), “accommodation service” (71% to 82%), “internet access” (68% to 79%) and with “orientation programmes” (88% to 93%).
• Decreased satisfaction with “bank account” (82% to 79%) and “initial travel to accommodations” (77% to 75%).

Learning:

• Considerable improvement in the satisfaction ratings for “library” from 2013 to 2016 (73% to 94%) as well as for “online services” (86% to 92%).
• Since 2009, ratings have continuously improved for “language support” (76% to 90%) and  “learning support” (77% to 89%).
• Satisfaction ratings have improved continuously since 2011 in the following categories: “Teacher quality” (from 85% to 94%), “course quality” (89% to 94%) and “virtual learning” (83% to 88%).
• Decreased satisfaction with “career advice” and “work experience”.

Life in Konstanz:

• Continuous improvement in the satisfaction ratings for “campus buildings” (54% since 2011 to 74% in 2016).
• Increased satisfaction since 2013 in the categories “internet access” (+9%), “social activities” (+7%) and “transportation links” (+5%)
• Although the satisfaction ratings increased since 2013 in regard to “accommodation costs” (+9%) and “financial support” (+4%), they continue to fall short of expectations.

Support services:

• Since 2013, the satisfaction ratings have increased or stayed the same for all services except for “clubs or student groups” (95% to 92%).

Press release from 13 April 2017

The most important results:

• Our International Office placed 1st in Germany (from 5 participating universities) and 2nd in the world (from 163) with excellent satisfaction ratings. Thank you very much!
• 92% of international students would recommend the University of Konstanz (86% in 2011)
• No. 1 at supervising visa matters when compared to the rest of the world (92.4%)
• top-level rankings in the study elements “expert knowledge” (96.6%) and “research orientation” (93.2%)
• high satisfaction with “inclusion by Konstanz students” (13th among the ISB universities), “orientation programmes” (88.5%) and “staff readiness to help” (96.2%)
• comparatively less satisfaction with “student housing provider” and “housing costs”, “transport connections” and the “campus buildings”

What are the trends?

Just after arriving:

• significant improvement in the “organisation of a lecture timetable” (77% /2009, 85% /2013), “enrolment” (73% /2009, 85% /2013)
• decreasing satisfaction with “internet access” (88% in 2011; 68% in 2013) and “bank account” (90% in 2009; 82% in 2013)

Learning:

• increasing satisfaction with "course organisation" (73% in 2011; 83% in 2013) and “grading system” (68% in 2011; 70% in 2013)
• “feedback on performance” remains below expectations (77% in 2011; 79% in 2013)
• “learning workspace”, "renovation work in the “library”, “available technology infrastructure” were criticised

Life in Konstanz:

• high satisfaction with the opportunities to get to know the host culture (89.6%)
• improvement in visa consultation and the university buildings, decline in the satisfaction with part-time jobs (62% in 2011; 54% in 2013) and scholarships (64% in 2011; 46% in 2013)

Support services:

• improvement in all services
• good feedback on the cafeteria in the ISB comparison (31st of all ISB universities)

Press release from 3 April 2014

“Multicultural Campus” in uni'kon 55/2014

What are the most important highlights?

• the International Office placed 1st in Germany (10th in worldwide comparison)
• very high satisfaction with the study elements “research”, “teaching quality” and “expert knowledge”
• study assisting elements like “course organisation”, “feedback on performance” and “grading system” lag behind somewhat
• international students generally rate the support provided upon arrival well, but seem to expect more from the “welcoming personnel” and the “study organisation and course selection (Study Sense)”.

What are the trends?

• satisfaction with “internet access” has risen 20%
• satisfaction with “places to pray” dropped 13%
• the rating for “assistance finding housing” is below average, but did rise by 7% in comparison with 2009

Although international students did have these points of criticism, the International Student Barometer (ISB) indicates that both full time and exchange students were very pleased with the helpfulness of university staff. 86% of international students would recommend studying at the University of Konstanz.