Why completing the Student Experience Survey matters

Help invoke meaningful change at UNSW and be in the running to win a $1000 gift card.

Published on the 25 August 2026

Students looking at one of their phones on campus

What is the Student Experience Survey?

If you've been at UNSW for a while, you've likely heard of or been sent something about the Student Experience Survey (SES), so this will be a refresher course. If this is your first time hearing about it because you're a first-year student, welcome!

The SES is an Australia-wide survey aimed at understanding the university student experience through first-hand feedback. At UNSW specifically, the SES helps the uni figure out where students are thriving and where improvements are needed across a range of areas, such as:

Teaching quality
Student engagement
Learning resources
Skills development
Belonging and support.

By completing the SES, you're using your voice to drive change at UNSW proactively. By telling the University what is and isn't working, your feedback will help inform important improvements that'll make the whole uni experience better for everyone!

This year's SES will go live on Tuesday, 8 September and will run until Friday, 11 October. If you fill out the SES, you'll go into the draw to win one of four $1000 gift cards as a major first prize. Should you miss out on the big one, don't worry because there are also four $250 gift cards up for grabs as runner-up prizes.

Complete the survey and go in the draw to win a $1000 gift card!

What 🔍: Student Experience Survey (SES)

When ⏱️: Tuesday, 8 September – Friday, 11 October

At the end of each week, all participants in the survey will go in the draw for the following prizes:

First prize: $1000 e-gift card
Runners-up prize: $250 e-gift card.

A total of four $1000 and four $250 gift cards will be drawn.

Don't miss out on your chance to use your student voice to drive visible action at UNSW - and have a chance to win a free gift card!

SES Terms and Conditions

The positive SES-driven impacts at UNSW (so far)

The SES isn't one of those surveys that doesn't go anywhere. Your voice truly matters and it has helped drive several positive changes to the UNSW student experience so far.

Based on a deep dive into the results of the previous SES, several UNSW-wide themes about what matters most to the student community emerged. This in turn resulted in a wide range of changes being implemented across all faculties.

Here are some of the issues that were most important to students and what UNSW did to improve the overall university experience:

Clearer programs and easier navigation

The curriculum is being transformed for the better through simplifying programs, assessment and feedback improvements, pedagogical principles and flex-semester alignment.

Better teaching, assessment and feedback

The expansion of ICON (Immersive Conversation Simulation) is helping students practise real-world communication in high-stakes and professional contexts. The tool is now being used across UNSW faculties including Medicine & Health, Law & Justice, Business, Arts, Design & Architecture, and other areas

Curriculum and assessment improvements

Two initiatives were put in place:

Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) pilots are continuing to expand across selected courses in Terms 2 and 3, 2026; and
Cadmus is now supporting improved group assessment design, with 25 course convenors and 4,000 students participating in a large-scale trial.

Practical, career-relevant learning

The gap between classroom learning and practical experience continues to shrink! Work Integrated Learning opportunities have continued to be expanded to help further strengthen students' employability, professional readiness and industry engagement.

Belonging, support and connection

UNSW has reached its student equity target, with one in four commencing domestic undergraduate students now coming from low socioeconomic backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and Gateway partner schools.

That's not all when it comes to student equity at UNSW as the launch of the Widening Participation Strategy to 2035 further reinforces UNSW’s long- term commitment to equitable student success

Addressing different student needs

Scout, UNSW’s AI student assistant, has been expanded to support students across multiple faculties with trusted, 24/7 guidance. This will help you find answers more quickly and reduces administrative friction.