Students at the University of Bath can share real-time feedback on their academic experience through the Academic Feedback Tool, designed to make it easier to raise praise, concerns and ideas directly with Academic Reps. An Academic Feedback Tool makes it simpler for students to share what’s working well, raise concerns and suggest ideas for change, helping Reps and staff improve the academic experience across the University.
What is the Academic Feedback Tool?
The Academic Feedback Tool is a simple online form that allows students to submit feedback about any aspect of their academic experience at Bath. Feedback is collected under three headings – Praise, Concern and Idea – so students can celebrate good practice, flag problems or suggest new approaches on their course. Once submitted, feedback is sent to the relevant Academic Rep within five working days, and students receive an email acknowledging that their comments have been received.
Using the tool gives students a clear route to share constructive feedback throughout the semester, rather than waiting for end-of-unit surveys. It is part of wider work by the University and The SU to strengthen student voice and close the feedback loop, ensuring students can see how their input leads to change.
Why now?
Students have told the University and The SU that they want more visible, easy-to-use ways to give feedback on their courses and to see what happens as a result. The tool was developed to streamline existing channels, and support more timely conversations between students and staff.
By centralising feedback in one place and directing it straight to Academic Reps, the tool helps identify patterns, highlight what is working well, and pinpoint areas where changes may be needed at unit, course and faculty level. It also supports ongoing work to improve student surveys and representation, making it easier to share updates with students.
How students can use it
Students can access the Academic Feedback Tool via a short online form. They are encouraged to include details such as units, staff, dates, and specific examples so that Reps and staff can understand and act on the feedback effectively. Academic Reps will use the feedback to raise issues, discuss ideas with staff, and highlight good practice across departments.
If students have feedback that is not academic – for example about housing, finances or wider student life – they will be directed instead to the SU Voice Team, relevant SU Officers or other University services signposted on the Have Your Say webpage. This ensures academic comments reach the right Academic Rep, while non-academic issues are picked up by the most appropriate support team.
What’s next
The SU will be working with Academic Reps and staff to promote the tool through social media over the coming weeks. The SU plans to publish further resources in advance of exams to highlight how the tool works and showcase examples of changes made in response to student feedback.
Students can find out more about the Academic Feedback Tool and other ways to have their say on The SU’s Have Your Say page.