Satisfaction on the part of the students plays an important role when teachers, their course programmes and the general quality of educational programmes are evaluated. Knowledge of the factors that influence satisfaction with e-learning initiatives can help improve such courses. In this study, involving 1114 university students from southern Spain, the authors determined and analysed the main components influencing students' level of satisfaction with e-learning. The most relevant findings were that course design and contents, the facility for accessing and visualising information on the teaching platform and the possibility of interaction were key aspects. The research also points to the importance of the professor as a motivating figure upon whom successful completion of a course largely relies.