A total of 232,450 students responded to StudentSurvey.ie between 2016 and 2021, 43,791 students of which responded in 2021 alone.
The respondents consisted of 113,057 first year undergraduate students, 78,222 final year undergraduate students, and 41,171 taught postgraduate students. Over this time the national response rate increased from 22.2% to a high of 31% in 2020, though it fell slightly to 28.4% in 2021. The profile of the StudentSurvey.ie respondents has closely matched the national student population profile over these years, as shown in more detail in the StudentSurvey.ie National Reports.
All results presented in this research, other than the demographic data, have been weighted by gender, mode of study and cohort within a given year. The use of weighting is regarded as standard practice with survey data because it improves the extent to which respondents match the national student population profile.
The response rates for any one year should not be taken as a direct indication of the effort expended to promote participation within individual higher education institutions in that year. Factors such as timing of the fieldwork or other major events within the institution can influence the response rate. Nevertheless, any institution that notes consistently low response rates should reflect on the nature, tone, and visibility of feedback activities.
Response rate for all respondents, 2016-2021
|
|
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Total |
22.2% |
27.2% |
28.0% |
29.3% |
31% |
28.4% |
|
|
29,173 |
35,850 |
38,371 |
40,558 |
44,707 |
43,791 |
Response rate by cohort, 2016-2021
|
|
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
First year undergraduate |
25.7% |
32.1% |
32.8% |
35.7% |
39% |
35.7% |
|
Final year undergraduate |
21.8% |
26.4% |
27.0% |
28.1% |
28% |
26.1% |
|
Taught postgraduate |
16.1% |
19.1% |
20.9% |
20.8% |
23% |
21.1% |
Response rate by gender, 2016-2021
|
|
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Female |
26.8% |
31.0% |
31.8% |
33.0% |
35% |
32.1% |
|
Male |
17.9% |
23.3% |
23.8% |
25.4% |
27% |
24.1% |
|
Undeclared |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
19.5% |
36% |
55.6% |
Response rate by age group, 2016-2021
|
|
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
23 years and under |
24.7% |
31.3% |
32.6% |
34.7% |
37% |
33.4% |
|
24 years and over |
18.9% |
21.8% |
22.2% |
22.6% |
24% |
22.7% |
Response rate by country of domicile, 2016-2021
|
|
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Irish domiciled |
Unavailable |
Unavailable |
Unavailable |
29.6% |
31% |
28.4% |
|
Internationally domiciled |
Unavailable |
Unavailable |
Unavailable |
27.6% |
32% |
28.6% |
Response rate by mode of study, 2016-2021
|
|
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Full-time |
24.5% |
30.4% |
31.6% |
33.6% |
35% |
32.2% |
|
Part-time/ remote |
12.8% |
14.5% |
15.3% |
14.9% |
16% |
16.7% |
Response rate by field of study, 2016-2021
|
|
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Generic programmes & qualifications |
27.6% |
16.5% |
15.3% |
11.4% |
34% |
13.2% |
|
Education |
26.5% |
25.3% |
25.9% |
27.8% |
26% |
25.4% |
|
Arts & humanities |
23.7% |
28.8% |
30.7% |
31.3% |
32% |
29.9% |
|
Social sciences, journalism & information |
21.1% |
24.7% |
26.4% |
25.2% |
30% |
28.7% |
|
Business, administration & law |
19.3% |
26.8% |
27.5% |
29.1% |
29% |
26.8% |
|
Natural sciences, mathematics & statistics |
26.5% |
32.1% |
33.2% |
34.4% |
38% |
33.9% |
|
Information & Communication Technologies |
23.2% |
29.3% |
27.2% |
29.0% |
29% |
27.7% |
|
Engineering, manufacturing & construction |
21.0% |
24.5% |
27.3% |
27.8% |
31% |
27.5% |
|
Agriculture, forestry, fisheries & veterinary |
18.7% |
33.0% |
26.4% |
28.8% |
39% |
40.7% |
|
Health & welfare |
20.9% |
25.3% |
25.9% |
27.7% |
30% |
27.6% |
|
Services |
24.6% |
28.8% |
29.3% |
35.1% |
37% |
31.7% |
