If you could change one thing about your experience as a commuter student at Royal Holloway, what would it be? Let us know by answering our survey as part of our new Policy Inquiry about the commuter student experience.
If you could change one thing about your experience as a commuter student at Royal Holloway, what would it be? Let us know by answering our survey as part of our new Policy Inquiry about the commuter student experience.
The Project
As your Students’ Union, we are committed to making student life better at Royal Holloway, and we hope to achieve this is by building community and leading change for all students. One way we try to achieve this is through a Policy Inquiry, which is an in-depth, research-informed process that generates a high-quality Student Voice Report on a particular topic. During a Policy Inquiry we engage with students in investigation and deliberation, and the end goal is the creation of a range of recommendations presented to the University and Students’ Union that will have a substantial and long-lasting positive impact on the student experience at Royal Holloway.
Over the last few years, commuter student numbers have steadily grown at Royal Holloway, and the Students’ Union recognises that their academic and extracurricular experiences while undertaking a degree are very different to those who live on campus or in the local area. We have already done some external research and identified some of the key national trends and issues surrounding the commuter student experience across the sector. But now it’s time to look inward.
This year we are launching a Policy Inquiry built around a series of feedback opportunities with current commuter students to better understand more about the issues they face while studying at Royal Holloway. Our work in this area is a result of current SU President, Sharanya Sivarajah’s, and VP Education, Madelaine Grey’s, Officer Manifestos during the 2024 Leadership Elections. The first survey is now live and want to hear what you have to say!
The Survey
This is the first of two surveys that we will be running this academic year. Student feedback through these surveys and a paid focus group event in Term Two will help guide the Students’ Union on how best to support commuter students and create positive, impactful change. This first survey will ask about your satisfaction and experiences with induction, contact time, accessing academic and professional service support, and your participation with various University and SU events. We also want to learn more about your commute, and the impact it has on your studies, workload, wellbeing and ability to find connection and belonging within the Royal Holloway community.
Cash Prizes
For this survey we are offering great cash prizes as an extra incentive to give us your views:
- Three £25 cash prizes
- Two £50 cash prizes
- And one lucky winner will get £100 cash prize after the survey closes.
That means we are giving £275 back to students who participate this term. To be eligible for a cash prize, you need to complete the entire survey. We will be announcing winners over the next two weeks while the survey is live. The sooner you complete the survey, the more chances you have to win a prize!
We will share the survey results with students after we analyse your responses. No names will appear in the final analysis and no answer will be traced back to an individual student. We will also be running a paid focus group event in Term Two. Survey respondents will have a chance to put their email down if they would like to be contacted about participating in this event.
How Long Will The Survey Be Open?
The survey will close at 23:59 on Sunday, 24 November.
Complete the survey here!