Melbourne University reports worst satisfaction score in Australia

Victoria’s universities have recorded some of the worst student satisfaction rates in the country with one elite institution scoring the lowest positive rating. See the full list of ratings.

University of Melbourne scored the lowest positive rating out of all the 42 major institutions in Australia at just 63 per cent. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Victorian universities recorded some of the worst student satisfaction rates in the country during the pandemic.

The Student Experience Survey, released by the federal Department of Education, surveyed 264,660 students nationally, revealing that the University of Melbourne scored the lowest positive rating out of all the 42 major institutions in Australia at just 63 per cent.

As part of the Quality Indicators of Learning and Teaching (QILT) program, the survey found that RMIT University followed closely behind at 67 per cent, while Monash, La Trobe and Victoria University fell below the 73 per cent average positive rating for all universities.

Despite showing the lowest rating in 2020 and 2021, the University of Melbourne showed one of the biggest improvements out of Victorian universities over the two-year period, rising by 11 per cent.

Students were the happiest at NSW and Queensland-based universities, with Canberra’s Avondale University’s rating sitting the highest at 90 per cent.

Monash University fell below the 73 per cent average positive rating for all universities. Picture: Chris Eastman

The top ranked Victorian institutions were Australian Catholic University (ACU) and Deakin University, who recorded ratings of 79 per cent and 78 per cent respectively.

Swinburne ranked 17th for overall educational experience.

The report noted that a range of internal factors could have contributed to why scores at some Victorian universities were more scathing than others.

“Victorian universities were in full or partial lockdown during the collection period in both 2020 and 2021 but had been able to return to on-campus learning for much of 2021 which may explain some of these results,” it said.

“However, there were other Victorian universities which experienced less movement in student ratings, including Victoria University, Swinburne University of Technology, and La Trobe University, suggesting there were other factors contributing to the change in results at the institution level.”

The shortfall in Victorian university scores could be explained by students feeling disconnected from their classmates and lecturers, amid the centralisation of degrees. Picture: David Geraghty

National Union of Students national president Georgie Beatty said the shortfall in Victorian university scores could be explained by students feeling disconnected from their classmates and lecturers, amid the centralisation of degrees, particularly at the University of Melbourne.

She said the pre-existing esteem and exclusivity of the prestigious campus that could not offer its renowned lively student culture and extra-curricular student activities drove down its lower score.

“When you’re on campus anywhere, you feel a part of what they have to offer and a part of student culture,” she said.

“Students returning to campus would 100 per cent have been why ratings jumped over those years,” she said.

A spokesman for the University of Melbourne said the institution was “disappointed” in its low score, saying more work needed to be done to improve students’ experience.

He said some initiatives included more scholarships for both domestic and international students and creating a more engaging experience both online and on campus.

“There is work to do to address this and we continue to engage with our students and staff so that we can maintain and improve our place as one of the world’s best universities,” he said.

“We are disappointed with the 2021 QILT survey results, which make it clear that we need to step up our determination and focus on improving the quality of our engagement with students inside and outside the classroom.”

Data Australia Bureau of Statistics shows that about 1.3m people were studying higher education last year, while the most recent Longitudinal Survey of Australian Youth found that five per cent of students put their study on hold because of the pandemic.

ACU Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Zlatko Skrbis welcomed the university’s topscoring result, with ACU scoring the highest among Victorian students.

“It is encouraging to see improvement across all aspects of education in every category,” he said.

The national survey also reviewed the support students received from the universities, teaching quality and how engaged students were.

Most campuses, including Victorian institutions, saw a decline in students feeling supported last year compared to 2020.

But Monash University saw their score improve from 64.2 per cent to 69.2 per cent.

Despite being ranked 36th in the country, the university’s president and vice chancellor Prof Margaret Gardner said students remained satisfied with their courses through online learning.

“Monash is strongly committed to providing a rich on-campus student experience,” she said.

“Through the dedication and resilience of our students and educators, we were able to significantly enhance on-campus and online learning, and conduct assessments remotely.

This will continue to shape the way we plan for, and enhance, the student experience into the future.”