Post by Advance HE

Student perceptions of their academic experience reach a decade-high despite the pressures facing higher education The 2026 Student Academic Experience Survey, which we publish today in partnership with Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), finds more students reporting good value for money and feeling positive about their choice of university than at any point in over a decade, even as financial pressures continue to shape the student experience. - The proportion of students rating the value for money of their course as ‘good’ or ‘very good’ has risen to 45% in 2026, up from 37% in 2025, the highest figure recorded in more than ten years. - Ratings of teaching quality have risen across almost every measure in this year's survey, with several indicators reaching their highest recorded levels - Students’ contact hours are largely steady this year, at 15.5 hours a week, remaining materially higher than before COVID. However, independent study hours have fallen somewhat recently, reflecting the pressures on students’ lives, and now amount to an average of 11.1 hours a week - Two-thirds of students (66%) say they are happy with their choice of course and institution and would not change anything, a marked increase from 56% in 2025. - The proportion of full-time undergraduates in paid employment during term time stands at 65% in 2026, consolidating the landmark shift first recorded in last year's survey - New questions introduced in this year's survey reveal a positive picture of institutional support - Seven in ten students (70%) say they feel comfortable expressing their views on campus even if others disagree, up six percentage points from 2025. Where students feel uncomfortable doing so, the most common reasons relate to personal confidence - A new question introduced in this year's survey asked students whether they had experienced harassment related to protected characteristics - one in five students (22%) reported having done so - New analysis in this year's survey shows that students living in small towns and villages report lower wellbeing scores, a weaker sense of belonging and a greater likelihood of their experience falling short of expectations. Our CEO Alistair Jarvis CBE says, ""The 2026 survey results are encouraging. More students are recognising the quality and value of their higher education experience, and that is a testament to the sustained efforts of staff right across the sector. It has been clear in our work that, despite financial pressures, higher education institutions are prioritising supporting student success. Helpfully, the survey also identifies where the experience falls short for particular groups of students, and it is our collective responsibility to understand those gaps and act on them." Read the news story and report here: https://lnkd.in/euzXX6-T #SAES2026 #HigherEd #StudentSuccess