The University of New South Wales has recorded by far the lowest satisfaction rating in the country, blaming the transition to a three-term academic year for a damning report card from students.

Just 63 per cent of students rated their experience at the university as positive in the 2019 Student Experience Survey, released on Wednesday, compared with 74 per cent for the second-lowest institution, the University of Sydney.

Students at UNSW protest the new trimester system on 26 June, 2019. Credit:Brook Mitchell

The Commonwealth government-commissioned Student Experience Survey measures students' views about five elements of their tertiary education, ranging from skills development and learner engagement to teaching quality.

Last year, UNSW's overall satisfaction rate was more than 10 per cent higher, at 74 per cent. This year, its learner engagement score was particularly low, with just 56 per cent saying they had a positive experience.