The 2015 Student Experience Survey National Report confirms that four out of five students (80 per cent) expressed satisfaction with the quality of the education delivered by their institution.

Satisfaction has been consistently high since 2011 (when the survey commenced) with the figures hovering between 79 and 80 per cent.

The latest survey signals that students are scoring universities highly on indicators such as teaching quality (82 per cent), learning resources (86 per cent) and skills development (81 per cent).

Universities Australia Chief Executive Belinda Robinson said the survey results were an overwhelming vote of confidence by students in the overall quality and standards of Australia’s universities.

“Levels of satisfaction have been maintained since the introduction of the demand-driven system, which coincided with the first of these surveys” she said.

“Since this time, an increasing number of students – from diverse social and economic backgrounds – have had the opportunity to obtain a world-class university education.

“Importantly, too, attrition hasn’t increased compared to a decade ago, despite nearly 50 per cent growth in enrolments for Australian students starting a bachelor’s degree. In 2013, when the latest figures were released, attrition was 14.8 per cent, compared to 15 per cent in 2005.”

Asked about the factors that caused students to contemplate withdrawing from their study, the single biggest cause was health and stress. Other external factors related to financial, work and family responsibilities were also commonly-cited causes.

This is consistent with the results of Universities Australia’s Australian University Student Finances in 2012 survey, which found 50 per cent of full-time undergraduates reporting that their paid work adversely affects their performance at university.

One in three Australian undergraduate students in the Universities Australia survey reported that they regularly missed classes because of employment obligations.