By Christopher Harris

Copyright theage

Australian Catholic University has ranked among the best in the country on national league tables that score institutions on teaching quality, peer connection and overall educational experience. The figures are based on the responses of 257,865 Australian university students to the QILT Student Experience Survey.

“When I speak with students, they talk about the sense of familiarity in their classes, how welcoming and approachable their tutors are, and how comfortable they feel asking questions and engaging in their learning,” said ACU deputy vice chancellor of education Professor Tania Broadley.

A survey of graduate employers last year found 90 per cent of employers had an overall satisfaction with Australian Catholic University graduates.

Sandstone and research-intensive universities such as UNSW, the University of Sydney and UTS were outperformed by smaller institutions in the QILT survey, including Charles Sturt, the University of New England and the University of Wollongong, which was the best public university in the country for student experience.