New HEPI and Advance HE report ‘The Student Academic Experience Survey 2026’

Against a backdrop of financial pressures and growing concerns about student wellbeing, the latest evidence suggests students remain remarkably positive about their university experience. New data show rising satisfaction and stronger perceptions of value for money.

The 2026 Student Academic Experience Survey by Jonathan Neves (Advance HE), Rose Stephenson (HEPI) and Charlotte Armstrong (HEPI) is based on the views of more than 10,000 undergraduates across the UK. It finds that perceptions of value for money have reached their highest level in over a decade. Two-thirds of students say they are happy with their choice of course and institution and would not change anything, while the proportion considering leaving their studies has fallen to one of the lowest levels recorded. Teaching quality ratings have also improved across almost every measure, with students particularly positive about staff support, assessment feedback and the quality of their learning experience.

Yet the survey also reveals how profoundly student life has changed. Paid employment is now the norm for most undergraduates, with nearly two-thirds working during term time and many balancing study and employment commitments that exceed those of the average full-time worker. New questions on harassment, freedom of speech, commuting and rural student experiences provide fresh insight into the realities of contemporary student life and the challenges that still need to be addressed.

As the UK’s longest-running survey of the student experience, the report offers a uniquely comprehensive snapshot of undergraduate life in 2026. The findings provide essential reading for anyone seeking to understand what students value most – and how universities are responding to a rapidly changing environment. Click here to read the press release, the data tables and a download link to the full report.