This study explored how online students perceived their instructors' emotional intelligence (EI) and its impact on their learning engagement. Using eight EI behaviours of online instructors and a learning engagement instrument, 100 online university students were surveyed regarding their observation of those EI behaviours and their learning engagement. Regression analysis indicated that 27.2% of the variance in learning engagement could be attributed to four dimensions of EI behaviours (R[superscript 2] = 0.272, F (4, 95) = 8.873, p < 0.001). Instructors providing individual support, demonstrating concern for the students' situations, adapting their resources to online delivery, and being honest about their situation and challenges were associated with higher student learning engagement.