Global Student Satisfaction Report shows rising career support but declining diversity and quality of life
Globally, university students are the most satisfied in the US, Belgium and Austria
Eindhoven, 2025 – Austria, Belgium, and the United States have emerged as the top three destinations for overall student satisfaction. This is according to the Global Student Satisfaction Awards 2025, based on more than 102,000 student reviews across 3,059 universities in 124 countries.
The Global Student Satisfaction Awards report, from Studyportals, British Council IELTS and Uni-Life, is the most comprehensive, global university satisfaction data in the world.
While students report growing satisfaction with career development and online learning, diversity and quality of life show noticeable declines compared to previous years.
Dimensions of student satisfaction
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Online Classroom Experience – Still the lowest-rated category overall, but improving steadily. Student satisfaction rose to 3.91, a 1.30% increase compared to 2023, with the US, India, and Belgium topping the ratings..
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Quality of Student Life – Ratings fell by 4.39% to 4.14. Master’s students were most satisfied, while PhD students reported the lowest scores. Austria, Spain, and Germany emerged as the top destinations.
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Career Development – The fastest-improving category, climbing to 4.13 (▲ 1.23%). Students in short courses reported the highest satisfaction for career development. The US, Switzerland and Belgium are leading student satisfaction with career development globally.
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Admission Process – Dropped by 3.85% to 4.24. Still, it had the highest share of 5-star reviews, with US, Sweden, and Belgium ranking top.
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Teacher–Student Interaction – The highest-rated category overall at 4.25, though down 2.07% compared to 2023. PhD students scored this the highest, with US, India, and Austria at the top.
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Student Diversity – The steepest decline across all categories, falling 5.03% to 4.15. It is now at its lowest level since 2021. Leading destinations were Belgium, Germany, and Austria.
Regional differences in student satisfaction
The latest Global Student Satisfaction Awards (GSSA) 2025 reveal sharp contrasts across regions and countries, with high satisfaction in the US and the UK and some standout performances in Europe and Asia. This compares to challenges in Australia and parts of Africa and the Middle East. Destinations with over a hundred reviews from over 10 institutions received country-specific rankings.
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The United States (4.32) continues to lead the way, topping average global satisfaction scores, and beating the rest of the Big Four Destinations (the UK, Canada and Australia) across every category.
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Canada meanwhile shows steady improvement, climbing to reach the global average (4.18) for the first time.
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Europe, delivered some of the strongest results globally. Belgium and Austria joined the US in the global top three for overall satisfaction, while Sweden ranked in the top three worldwide for admissions, and Switzerland and Belgium excelled in career Development.
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The UK is above average with 4.23, with that rating climbing up to its highest level since at least 2021.
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In the Middle East, scores remained below average overall, but UAE and Turkey scored above average ratings for student–teacher interaction.
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Across Africa, most countries lagged behind, though South Africa emerged as the highest-scoring country in Sub-Saharan Africa with 4.18.
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In the Asia–Pacific region (APAC), results were mixed. Australia scored below average (4.13), with lower ratings for online classroom experience, admissions process and Quality of student life.
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Student satisfaction in India was rated 4.21 out of 5. India placed in the global top three for both student–teacher interaction and online classroom experience. India scored above average in all categories except Student Diversity.
Edwin van Rest, CEO and Co-founder of Studyportals says:
“These results show where universities are winning student trust, and where they risk losing it. Students are more confident about career prospects, but increasingly concerned about diversity and their quality of life. In today’s competitive environment, these student voices are critical signals for universities. Understanding these perspectives is crucial for shaping policies and programmes that genuinely meet students’ needs.”
Megan Agnew, Global Partnerships Manager at British Council IELTS says:
“At British Council IELTS, we celebrate the Global Student Satisfaction Awards for their vital role in showcasing the authentic experiences of students worldwide. By amplifying the student voice, the awards promote the development of student-centred approaches in learning and assessment, fostering a more inclusive global education environment.
As the world’s most recognised test for higher education access, the awards align with the IELTS mission of delivering reliable and high-quality tests that contribute to a more fulfilling international student experience.”
The Global Student Satisfaction Awards are the only international awards based solely on student reviews. The awards celebrate institutions that deliver outstanding student experiences. By sharing their honest experiences, students empower others around the world to make confident, well-informed decisions about where to study.
It’s an open call to both students and institutions to support transparency in study choice and contribute to the overall quality of education.
Download the summary report: Global Student Satisfaction Awards Report 2025
