Student Perceptions of Research in Teaching-led Higher Education

This paper explores final-year students ’ perceptions of research in a non-research intensive institution of higher education. It argues that students value the enthusiasm, knowledge and credibility of a research-active staff but suggests that research needs to be embedded into the curriculum for these benefits to work. Furthermore, research is only one of a number of criteria that students use to assess the teaching they receive. Students do, however, value the skills and opportunities that conducting their own research develops, primarily because they think such skills will help raise their marks