Deakin Tops Victoria for Student Experience: What Does It Mean for Future Australian Students?

When comparing Australian universities, programmes and rankings matter. Yet everyday experience—teaching quality, learning resources, engagement, and support when challenges arise—often shapes whether a student can settle in and thrive.

Deakin University reports that it again ranked first in Victoria for overall student experience among undergraduate students in the 2025 Student Experience Survey (SES). Deakin also reports being the only Victorian university to achieve a satisfaction rate above 80%, and the state leader for Learning Resources.[1]

What the Student Experience Survey measures

The SES is Australia’s national survey of current higher-education students. It focuses on measurable aspects of the student experience that connect to learning and development outcomes and can potentially be influenced by institutions.[2]

QILT states that the survey runs annually in August and September. Its 2024 cycle included more than 158,000 undergraduate responses and 99,000 postgraduate coursework responses.[2]

That makes the survey a useful comparison input, rather than a universal answer. A future design student may value different services from a future engineering, business, health, or IT student.

Questions worth asking beyond the satisfaction figure

Deakin also reported strong Victorian results for Teaching Quality and Engagement, and Student Support and Services.[1] Use findings such as these to ask more practical questions:

1. **Academic support:** What tutoring, academic consultation, or learning support is available for your programme?

2. **Wellbeing and student services:** Where can students go when they are managing adjustment, wellbeing, or non-academic challenges?

3. **Learning resources:** Do the library, learning spaces, digital tools, and course resources suit how you learn?

4. **Engagement:** Are there ways to connect with teaching staff, classmates, communities, or industry projects?

5. **Personal fit:** Do the location, learning style, living costs, and career direction work with your plan?

Use survey results as the start of a conversation

Deakin’s result is a positive signal about its focus on student experience, not a guarantee that every individual will have the same outcome.[1] Read official programme pages, check current admission and English-language requirements, compare tuition and living costs, and confirm the latest student-visa information before deciding.

RIM Education can help you build an Australian university shortlist, prepare application documents, and understand the next steps for your study plan.

Contact RIM Education for a consultation.

Sources

[1] Holistic support key to a great experience: Deakin tops Victoria for student experience
[2] Student Experience Survey | QILT