Policy, Strategy and Facts and Figures

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See below for some quick facts and figures, and also for links to our published Facts and Figures documents and to our Statement of Accounts.

Key student statistics (19/20 academic year)

8665 students (including 3387 studying via our partners overseas)

41.3% are from Scotland;

6.4% are from the UK outside of Scotland;

38.0 % are from Europe;

14.4% are from outside Europe.

Student satisfaction

• In the National Student Survey 2021, our score for overall satisfaction is 79%. 

• The results confirm that students were particularly pleased with the support they received from academics with QMU’s ‘Academic Support’ ranking 4th in Scotland.

• Students clearly valued feeling part of QMU’s community of learners with QMU’s ‘Learning Community’ ranking 3rd in Scotland.
• QMU ranked in the top 15% of universities in the UK for student satisfaction relating to teaching on their courses (NSS 2021)
• Students value being part of a supportive learning community - QMU ranked 7^th university in the UK for student satisfaction with our ‘learning community’.
• Students value having their voices heard. QMU ranked in the top 25% of universities in the UK for satisfaction with the ‘Student Voice’ (NSS 2021)

Rankings

We are ranked within the top 50% of universities in the UK in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022.

In the same league table, we rank in the top 20 in the UK for:

• Pharmacy and Pharmacology
• Nursing
• Hospitality, Leisure, Recreation and Tourism
• Subjects Allied to Medicine
• Communication and Media

Graduate employability

At 3%, QMU has the lowest level of unemployment in Scotland for its graduates 15 months after they have graduated. The average figure for Scotland is 5%. (Graduate Outcome Statistics 2018/19, published by HESA in 2021).

Other interesting facts

• We were established in 1875. Throughout our history, we have focused on serving the community and improving the quality of life through education and research which is relevant to society’s needs.
• We offer the broadest range of allied health professional degrees in Scotland including nursing, dietetics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, radiography, audiology, art psychotherapy, music therapy, and speech and language therapy.
• We have won the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for our work in speech science.
• In the most recent nationwide audit of research in universities, Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014), over 58% of QMU’s overall research was rated as world leading or internationally excellent.  Amongst the highlights was our success in Speech and Language Sciences, with 92% of our research in this field classed as internationally excellent or world leading.  Times Higher Education singled us out as a ‘notable riser’ in terms of REF performance.
• Through collaborative agreements, students are studying for our degrees in India, Nepal, Greece, Egypt and other countries.
• We have flagship areas of specialism in health and rehabilitation, creativity and culture and sustainable business.

Our alumni include:

• Michael Matheson, MSP and Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport in the Scottish Government
• Shirley-Anne Somerville, MSP and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills in the Scottish Government
• Matt Baker, TV presenter (formerly ‘Blue Peter’, currently ‘The One Show’ and ‘Countryfile’)
• Ashley Jensen, actor (US hit TV series ‘Ugly Betty’)
• Edith Bowman, Scottish music critic, radio DJ and TV presenter (BBC Radio 1)
• Kevin McKidd, actor (‘Trainspotting’, TV hit series ‘Rome’, Grey’s Anatomy’)

Economic impact

• According to research by the University of Strathclyde, QMU is worth £77 million to the economy (2009)
• Employment attributable to the University represents 3% of all East Lothian employment
• Students from outside Scotland who come to study at QMU generate an estimated £11 of economic output each year

Our Strategic Plan 2020-2025 demonstrates how we will contribute to society’s recovery and recalibration following COVID-19. It sets out how we will help create a better society through teaching, learning and innovation. It shows how we will nurture our distinctive person-centred approach to learning, and how we will build on our unique academic portfolio. Promoting creativity, agility, resilience and collaboration, the strategy holds true to the ethos of social justice on which this institution was founded.

Find out more about our strategy in our Strategic Plan

Our Outcome Agreement sets out a number of objectives across the range of SFC funded activity, namely, teaching,research and innovation. For more information see our Outcome Agreement 2017-2020: April 2019 Update

For more full information on our student numbers, annual turnover, and other statistical information, see below for our facts and figures publications and statement of accounts for recent years.

QMU Facts and Figures 2021 (PDF version)

QMU Facts and Figures 2020 (PDF version)

QMU Facts and Figures 2019 (PDF version)

QMU Facts and Figures 2018 (PDF version)

QMU Facts and Figures 2016 (PDF version)

QMU Facts and Figures 2015 (PDF version)

QMU Facts and Figures 2014 (PDF version)

QMU Facts and Figures 2013 (PDF version)

QMU Facts and Figures 2012 (PDF version)

QMU Facts and Figures 2011 (PDF version)

QMU Facts and Figures 2010 (PDF version)

More information can be found via our Statement of Accounts which can be found in our Finance web section