Students at the University of Newcastle have given their academic programs high marks for quality in the 2006 Composite Student Questionnaire (CSQ).

The CSQ seeks student opinions on teaching and learning in academic programs using scales including good teaching, clear goals and standards, learning resources, and generic skills.

More than 68 per cent of undergraduate student respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that overall they were satisfied with the quality of their program.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Kevin McConkey, said student satisfaction for the majority of the scales had increased across the university over 2005 to 2006.

"The university is committed to providing students with the highest quality academic programs and ensuring a supportive environment to help students succeed.

"The Composite Student Questionnaire is a vital component of the university's continuous quality improvement process."

While the data revealed that the faculties had different strengths in regards to the student experience, Professor McConkey said the results provided the university with the opportunity to identify and focus on areas that needed to be further strengthened.

"The University of Newcastle is committed to producing work-ready graduates and continually strives to ensure its degrees remain relevant. We want students to have an enjoyable time when completing their degrees, and take with them a valuable asset when they graduate."