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Overview

  1. The Student Satisfaction and Engagement Survey (SSES) for 2025-261 was carried out over an eight-week period between 2 March and 24 April 2026.
  1. 90,155 full-time and part-time college students were surveyed, with the following response rates2:
  • 57,805 full-time students of whom 62.9% responded, an increase of 5.3 percentage points (pp) from the previous year.
  • 32,345 part-time students of whom 39.0% responded, an increase of 8.7 pp from the previous year.

  1. Response rates improved across all cohorts, with the largest increases among part-time students. However, response rates remained lower for part-time students than for full-time, and college level response rates varied considerably. Results for colleges with lower response rates should therefore be interpreted with care.

  2. Overall student satisfaction is defined as the percentage of positive responses to the statement: ‘Overall, I am satisfied with my college experience’. Overall satisfaction was very high across full- and part-time students on both Further Education (FE) and Higher Education (HE) courses, with nine out of 10 students satisfied with their college experience.

  3. Overall student satisfaction levels increased in 2025-26 against the previous year for full-time FE students (+0.3 pp) and part-time HE students (+0.4 pp), remained stable for part-time FE students, and decreased slightly for full-time HE students (-0.1 pp).

  4. Part-time FE students consistently reported the highest levels of satisfaction to both the overall college experience statement as well as the other 12 survey statements, while HE students, particularly part-time HE students, tended to report lower satisfaction in areas related to community, influence, and student voice. Perceptions of teaching, support, and learning resources were broadly positive across the board, while belonging and engagement showed greater variation between student groups.

  5. Most satisfaction rates have increased compared with 2024-25, and where decreases occurred they were small.

  6. The survey results point to a positive overall picture, while reinforcing the importance of continued work with colleges to improve student engagement, strengthen the student voice, and support more consistent survey participation across different learner groups.

An infographic that highlights key statistics from the publication. It shows statistics on response rates and overall satisfaction for full-time and part-time students by level of qualification (Higher Education and Further Education)

Full-time Further Education students

  1. Response rates for full-time FE students remained variable at college level this year, ranging from 16.1% to 100%. At sector level, the response rate was 65.1% (23,870 respondents), an increase of 5.5 pp from 2024-25.

  2. The 2024-25 academic year saw the introduction of Scotland’s Tertiary Quality Enhancement Framework (TQEF) and institutional Self-Evaluation and Action Plans (SEAPs), both of which give greater prominence to the student voice. In this context, SFC continued to work with relevant colleges in 2025-26 to support improvement in student engagement with the SSES. Colleges reported actions such as reviewing survey processes, strengthening departmental accountability and staff engagement, and appointing new quality leaders. These activities may have contributed to the increase in the overall response rate this year.

  3. Although we have published the results for all colleges, two of the 24 colleges with full-time FE students had response rates below 40%. Care should therefore be taken when comparing results between colleges. Individual colleges’ response and satisfaction rates for full-time students are shown in Appendix A of the Background and Appendices document.

  4. Table 1 shows the breakdown of responses for the 23,870 full-time FE students at Scotland’s colleges responding to the statement: ‘Overall, I am satisfied with my college experience’.

Table 1: Full-time FE students’ satisfaction with their overall college experience, 2025-26

Measure Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree Satisfied
Responses (n) 10,715 12,075 845 235 22,790
Responses (%) 44.9% 50.6% 3.5% 1.0% 95.5%
  1. Table 2 shows that overall student satisfaction in 2025-26 was the highest seen in recent years, with 95.5% of full-time FE students satisfied with their college experience, an improvement of 0.3 pp on the previous year.

Table 2: Full-time FE students’ satisfaction trend

Academic year Proportion satisfied
2025-26 95.5%
2024-25 95.2%
2023-24 94.4%
2022-23 94.6%
2021-22 92.7%
2020-21* 88.6%
2018-19 93.0%
*As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the national lockdown, the SSES did not take place during the 2019-20 academic year. Furthermore, in the 2020-21 academic year teaching was severely impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, resulting in a lower than normal overall satisfaction rate.

  1. The survey includes 13 statements for each student group. Table 3 shows the responses for each statement among full-time FE students. More than four out of five respondents agreed or strongly agreed with each statement. Students were most satisfied with staff encouraging them to take responsibility for their learning (97.4%), and least satisfied with their suggestions being taken seriously (88.4%). This information will feed into the work with the sector on student voice mentioned in paragraph 10.

  2. The proportion of students reporting they were satisfied has increased year-on-year for each of the 13 statements. The smallest rise was for Statement 3: ‘Staff encourage students to take responsibility for their learning’ (+0.2pp), while the greatest rise was for Statement 13: ‘The college Students’ Association influences change for the better’ (+1.9pp). Satisfaction increased by more than one percentage point for seven of the 13 statements.

Table 3: Summary of full-time FE students’ satisfaction responses, 2025-26

Survey statement Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree Total Satisfied Proportion satisfied
01. Overall, I am satisfied with my college experience. 10,715 12,075 845 235 23,870 22,790 95.5%
02. Staff regularly discuss my progress with me. 9,285 12,410 1,780 305 23,780 21,695 91.2%
03. Staff encourage students to take responsibility for their learning. 12,360 10,870 425 185 23,835 23,225 97.4%
04. I am able to influence learning on my course. 8,265 13,620 1,415 260 23,560 21,885 92.9%
05. I receive useful feedback which informs my future learning. 10,240 12,000 1,275 270 23,785 22,240 93.5%
06. The way I'm taught helps me learn. 9,350 12,455 1,590 340 23,740 21,805 91.9%
07. My time at college has helped me develop knowledge and skills for the workplace. 11,360 11,095 1,030 280 23,760 22,450 94.5%
08. I believe student suggestions are taken seriously. 7,725 13,140 2,230 495 23,590 20,865 88.4%
09. I believe all students at the college are treated equally and fairly by staff. 10,240 11,135 1,800 565 23,745 21,375 90.0%
10. Any change in my course or teaching has been communicated well. 9,065 12,215 1,930 535 23,740 21,280 89.6%
11. The online learning materials for my course have helped me learn. 8,955 12,590 1,705 465 23,720 21,550 90.9%
12. I feel that I am part of the college community. 8,440 12,855 1,865 480 23,640 21,295 90.1%
13. The college Students' Association influences change for the better. 5,505 10,285 605 230 16,625 15,790 95.0%

Full-time Higher Education students

  1. The UHI partner colleges and SRUC report their HE students within the National Student Survey (NSS) university statistics. As a result, only 16 colleges contribute to the sector level SSES HE results.

  2. The sector response rate for full-time HE students was 59.2% (12,515 respondents) in 2025-26, which represents an increase of 5.0 pp from the previous year. Response rates at college level ranged from 24.3% to 86.0%.

  3. Although we have published results for all colleges, two of the 16 colleges with full-time HE students had response rates below 40%. Care should therefore be taken when comparing results between colleges. Individual colleges’ response and satisfaction rates for full-time students are shown in Appendix A of the Background and Appendices document.

  4. Table 4 shows the breakdown of responses for the 12,515 full-time HE students at Scotland’s colleges responding to the statement: ‘Overall, I am satisfied with my college experience’.

Table 4: Full-time HE students’ satisfaction with their overall college experience, 2025-26

Measure Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree Satisfied
Responses (n) 5,260 6,365 710 180 11,625
Responses (%) 42.0% 50.9% 5.7% 1.4% 92.9%
  1. Table 5 shows that overall student satisfaction in 2025-26 was 92.9% among full-time HE students, down slightly (-0.1 pp) from the previous year.

Table 5: Full-time HE student satisfaction trend

Academic year Proportion satisfied
2025-26 92.9%
2024-25 93.0%
2023-24 88.2%
2022-23 89.1%
2021-22 85.7%
2020-21* 80.2%**
2018-19 86.8%
*As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the national lockdown, the SSES did not take place during the 2019-20 academic year. Furthermore, in the 2020-21 academic year teaching was severely impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, resulting in a lower than normal overall satisfaction rate.
**This percentage was revised in 2025-26 (from 80.3%) due to the removal of HE students from UHI colleges and SRUC who were mistakenly included in the 2020-21 figures.

  1. Table 6 shows the responses to each survey statement for full-time HE students. More than four out of five respondents agreed or strongly agreed with each statement. Students were most satisfied with staff encouraging them to take responsibility for their learning (97.1%), and least satisfied with their suggestions being taken seriously (82.7%). This information will feed into the work with the sector on student voice mentioned in paragraph 10.

  2. Student satisfaction rates increased year-on-year for 11 of the 13 statements. Satisfaction increased by more than one percentage point for four questions, the greatest improvement being for Statement 13: ‘The college Students’ Association influences change for the better’ (+3.0pp). Satisfaction decreased slightly for Statement 1 as noted in paragraph 20, as well as for Statement 9: ‘I believe all students at the college are treated equally and fairly by staff’ (-0.1pp).

Table 6: Summary of full-time HE students’ satisfaction responses, 2025-26

Survey statement Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree Total Satisfied Proportion satisfied
01. Overall, I am satisfied with my college experience. 5,260 6,365 710 180 12,515 11,625 92.9%
02. Staff regularly discuss my progress with me. 4,645 6,100 1,490 245 12,480 10,745 86.1%
03. Staff encourage students to take responsibility for their learning. 7,320 4,855 245 120 12,545 12,175 97.1%
04. I am able to influence learning on my course. 4,095 6,755 1,295 205 12,350 10,850 87.9%
05. I receive useful feedback which informs my future learning. 5,295 5,960 1,000 235 12,495 11,255 90.1%
06. The way I'm taught helps me learn. 4,350 7,110 1,400 285 13,145 11,460 87.2%
07. My time at college has helped me develop knowledge and skills for the workplace. 5,865 5,640 765 200 12,465 11,505 92.3%
08. I believe student suggestions are taken seriously. 3,885 6,250 1,665 450 12,250 10,135 82.7%
09. I believe all students at the college are treated equally and fairly by staff. 5,905 5,110 1,030 390 12,430 11,010 88.6%
10. Any change in my course or teaching has been communicated well. 4,765 5,700 1,490 460 12,415 10,465 84.3%
11. The online learning materials for my course have helped me learn. 5,440 5,885 925 220 12,470 11,325 90.8%
12. I feel that I am part of the college community. 4,100 6,225 1,505 400 12,230 10,325 84.4%
13. The college Students' Association influences change for the better. 2,180 4,680 430 170 7,460 6,860 92.0%
  1. The results for full-time HE students across all statements, including overall satisfaction, were less positive than for full-time FE students. The greater emphasis on independent learning within HE provision may be one contributing factor, alongside differences in course structure and assessment, students’ sense of belonging, communication and course organisation, and students’ perceptions of feedback and support.

Comparison of full-time and part-time students

  1. Response rates for part-time students were lower than for full-time students at both FE and HE levels:
  • 38.9% of part-time FE students responded compared to 65.1% for full-time FE.
  • 39.6% of part-time HE students responded compared to 59.2% for full-time HE.

  1. Colleges have reported difficulties in obtaining responses from some cohorts of students, and challenges in generating interest in the survey. Reasons cited include survey fatigue (there are other surveys running throughout the academic year), the timing of the survey not fitting with the timing of students’ studies, difficulties in reaching part-time students studying off-campus, and difficulties engaging those who are in employment and on upskilling courses, who feel the survey is not for them. Otherwise, challenges associated with system migrations at some colleges impacted response rates, whilst other colleges reported that staff resource challenges impacted their response rates.

  2. Despite these difficulties, response rates across all student groups have improved since the previous survey year. The increases for part-time students (+9.0 pp for HE, +8.6 pp for FE), were almost double those for full-time students (+5.5 pp for FE, +5.0 pp for HE).

  3. Table 7 below compares satisfaction rates for both full-time and part-time FE and HE students at colleges.

Table 7: Comparison of satisfaction rates for full-time and part-time FE and HE students, 2025-26

Survey statement Full-time FE Part-time FE Full-time HE Part-time HE
01. Overall, I am satisfied with my college experience. 95.5% 96.7% 92.9% 92.7%
02. Staff regularly discuss my progress with me. 91.2% 92.7% 86.1% 87.1%
03. Staff encourage students to take responsibility for their learning. 97.4% 97.9% 97.1% 96.5%
04. I am able to influence learning on my course. 92.9% 94.5% 87.9% 88.5%
05. I receive useful feedback which informs my future learning. 93.5% 95.3% 90.1% 90.9%
06. The way I'm taught helps me learn. 91.9% 94.2% 87.2% 89.0%
07. My time at college has helped me develop knowledge and skills for the workplace. 94.5% 95.1% 92.3% 90.4%
08. I believe student suggestions are taken seriously. 88.4% 92.7% 82.7% 88.0%
09. I believe all students at the college are treated equally and fairly by staff. 90.0% 95.1% 88.6% 94.1%
10. Any change in my course or teaching has been communicated well. 89.6% 93.3% 84.3% 88.8%
11. The online learning materials for my course have helped me learn. 90.9% 90.9% 90.8% 91.3%
12. I feel that I am part of the college community. 90.1% 91.0% 84.4% 80.9%
13. The college Students' Association influences change for the better. 95.0% 96.0% 92.0% 92.9%

  1. Over nine out of 10 full-time and part-time students were satisfied with their overall college experience (94.6% and 96.1% respectively).

  2. The satisfaction rates for both FE and HE part-time students were on par with or higher than full-time students for all survey statements, with the exception of the following statements for which satisfaction rates were higher among full-time HE students: ‘Overall, I am satisfied with my college experience’, ‘Staff encourage students to take responsibility for their learning’, and ‘My time at college has helped me develop knowledge and skills for the workplace’.

  3. The highest levels of satisfaction for full-time and part-time FE and HE students were for the statement: ‘Staff encourage students to take responsibility for their learning’. This is in line with responses to previous surveys.

  4. The vast majority of satisfaction rates in 2025-26 increased when compared with the previous year, across all statements, modes and levels of study. Year-on-year increases ranged from 0.1 pp to 5.7 pp, with an average of 1.0 pp. Of the few satisfaction rates which decreased year-on-year, the declines were all 0.8 pp or lower. The previous year’s edition of this report can be found here: College Student Satisfaction and Engagement Survey 2024-25.

Footnotes

  1. College Student Satisfaction and Engagement Survey Guidance 2025-26↩︎

  2. Please note that the proportions of responses presented in this report are not weighted at provider level to take into account differing response rates.↩︎