This paper uses self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000) to investigate important motivators for student engagement. It reports the results of a survey of students enrolled for the first time in a post-compulsory education programme in one of nine institutions in Aotearoa/New Zealand: two universities, one wānanga, four institutes of technology/ polytechnics, a private training establishment and a community organization. The survey, in the form of a questionnaire, addressed the following research question: ‘How do institutional and non-institutional learning environments influence student engagement in diverse tertiary settings?’ This paper reports one aspect of the questionnaire. It examines differences and similarities between students in the nine case study institutions. It outlines some ways in which teachers and institutions might use the findings to improve student engagement.

Keywords: student engagement, student experience, self-determination theory