Some of the happiest students in the country go to the University of Leicester, a national study has shown.

Leicester was ranked joint top – on a par with the University of Cambridge – for student satisfaction among mainstream English universities.

Students in Leicester said they were particularly happy with the way their lecturers supported them – as well as the campus facilities, such as the new £32m library.

The National Student Survey reveals how students feel about their university education and is one of the key indicators used by teenagers when choosing where to study.

Leicester came top for teaching, support and advice.

Owen Jones, 22, who graduated this year in economics and is now an officer at the Students' Union, said: "I'm extremely proud of this place. I like the direction the university is going in.

"It's great that we're up there with Cambridge.

"Students are consumers these days – they pay £3,000 a year in fees – so it's essential the universities listen to them.

"We feel we are listened to. The vice-chancellor sits down with the students' union and talks about students' needs.

"Academics listen to students and I think that's why people are so happy here."

The survey found 91% of students at Leicester were satisfied, the same proportion at last year.

However, satisfaction across England has fallen. On average, 81% said they were satisfied, down from 82% last year.

Fewer students at Loughborough University said they were satisfied than last year – down from 91% to 89% – but this is still much higher than the national average.

At De Montfort University, in Leicester, 82% said they were satisfied, the same as last year.

The University of Leicester was beaten only by the University of Buckingham, the UK's only private university, the Open University and five specialist institutions, such as Courtauld Institute of Art and Brighton and Sussex Medical School.

St Mary's University College, in Northern Ireland, and the University of St Andrews, in Scotland, also scored higher than Leicester.

Leicester's vice-chancellor Professor Bob Burgess agreed the university's high student satisfaction rating reflected its strong focus on paying close attention to the needs of students.

He said: "I am particularly pleased to see that students feel our staff exude enthusiasm for their discipline, teach it very well, and are there for students.

"We are very excited about being able to delight our students even more with the facilities we will be able to provide in the coming years as our development plan rolls forward."

Charlotte Binks, who also graduated in medical physiology last month, said: "The academic staff are extremely accessible and approachable. They never failed to impress me with their enthusiasm for the course, which is clear in their teaching."