Northern School of Contemporary Dance

OverviewReputaion and RankingsApplication supportCoursesStudent FeedbackLocation
Outstanding Teaching
High Quality Teaching
Satisfied Students
International Mix
Specialist Institution
Student Favourite
Prestigious

Home Students

70%

International Students

30%

Total Students

270

Home

190

International

80

Founded in and awarded degree‑awarding powers in , the Northern School of Contemporary Dance is one of the UK’s specialist universities in Music & Performing Arts, famed for its intensive, performance‑led training, world‑class venues and recording facilities, and strong professional networks that launch graduates into careers on stage, screen, and in the music industry.

In the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework, the university was awarded the second highest category, earning an overall Silver rating, plus Gold for Student Experience and Silver for Student Outcomes.

Teaching Excelence Framewok (TEF)

The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) is a UK government assessment of how well universities deliver teaching, learning, and student outcomes. 

It helps you compare universities based on the quality of their teaching and student support and is widely used in rankings.

Overall Silver
Teaching Gold
Student Outcomes Silver

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Northern School of Contemporary Dance Courses

National Student Survey Results 2025

The National Student Survey (NSS) is an annual UK-wide survey that collects final-year undergraduates’ feedback on the quality of their courses, covering teaching, learning resources, academic support, and overall satisfaction. Its large sample size, consistent methodology, and focus on student experience make it a trusted indicator for comparing universities.

Northern School of Contemporary Dance University Level Scores

Northern School of Contemporary Dance received positivity scores of 98.1% for teaching and 98.5% for learning. Click the tabs below to see detailed student survey results and an explanation of the scores.

Theme 1 of the UK’s National Student Survey asks final year students to rate the teaching they have experienced on their course. 

It asks students how clearly tutors explain ideas, how they bring the subject to life, and how well they inspire learning. It’s one of the best ways to gauge students’ direct experiences of teaching quality at the university.

NSS Theme 1: Teaching on my Course – University Score
Metric Value Explanation
Positivity measure 98.1% The percentage of students who answered “good” or “very good” to the questions in Theme 1 about the teaching they received.
Difference to Benchmark 10ppt The difference in percentage points between this provider’s score and the national benchmark for similar institutions. A positive or negative number here indicates the university’s performance against similar institutions.
Benchmark 88.1% The expected or average score for similar institutions and subjects, used as a point of comparison.
Response Distribution
Materially above benchmark 98.2% Proportion of responses where the score was significantly above the benchmark (typically 2 standard deviations or more). A large percentage here indicates above-average teaching satisfaction.
Broadly in line 1.8% Proportion of responses that were close to the benchmark and within expected variation.
Materially below benchmark 0% Proportion of responses where the score was below the benchmark.
Response rate 94.6% The percentage of eligible students who responded to the NSS questions in this theme.

Theme 2 of the UK’s National Student Survey asks final year students to reflect on the learning opportunities they have experienced during their course.

It covers how well the course has offered opportunities to explore ideas in depth, bring together information from different topics, and apply learning in new or practical ways. This theme gives prospective students a sense of how effectively a course supports exploring the subject matter intellectual growth. 

NSS Theme 2: Learning Opportunities – University Score
Metric Value Explanation
Positivity measure 98.5% The percentage of students who gave positive responses (e.g. “definitely” or “mostly agree”) to the learning opportunities questions in this theme.
Difference to Benchmark 13.8ppt The difference in percentage points between this provider’s score and the national benchmark for similar institutions.
Benchmark 84.7% The expected or average score for similar institutions and subjects, used as a point of comparison.
Response Distribution
Materially above benchmark 99.8% Proportion of responses where the score was significantly above the benchmark (typically 2 standard deviations or more).
Broadly in line 0.2% Proportion of responses that were close to the benchmark and within expected variation.
Materially below benchmark 0% Proportion of responses where the score was significantly below the benchmark.
Response rate 94.6% The percentage of eligible students who responded to the NSS questions in this theme.

Location

Leeds, Yorkshire and the Humber

Distance to London 196 Miles (315 KM)

Driving To London 3 hours 47 min

Public Transport To London 2 hours 21 min

Nearest Airport Manchester Airport (MAN)

Miles to Nearest Airport 56.9