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CONTENTS

1. What are TEF awards?

2. How are TEF awards calculated?

3. Key things to know about TEF awards

4. Making university decisions

What are TEF awards?

The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) encourages and recognises high-quality teaching and student outcomes in higher education. The awards are rated as Gold, Silver, Bronze and Requires Improvement. You can see what each participating university has achieved on their individual profiles.

TEF is based on a range of measures that the government views as related to teaching quality, along with evidence from the university and its students. Excellence is assessed in two areas:

• Student experience – looking at students' educational experience including teaching, learning, assessment, resources and support to help students in their studies
• Student outcomes – focusing on how well students succeed during and after their studies

The ratings for student experience and student outcomes combine to give the overall TEF award:

TEF Award	Awarded to institutions where...
	The student experience and student outcomes are typically outstanding.
	The student experience and student outcomes are typically very high quality.
	The student experience and student outcomes are typically high quality, and there are some very high quality features.
	The provider was assessed in the TEF and no rating was awarded. Improvement is required for a TEF rating.

How are TEF awards calculated?

An expert panel of academics and students determines the TEF award ratings. They assess the following:

• Written evidence from each university, plus optional evidence from its students
• Contextual data about each institution's students, such as ethnicity, gender, disability and subject of study
• Student statistics for undergraduate and degree apprenticeship students

Below shows the statistics used as 'TEF indicators' for student experience and student outcomes.

You can find full details of ratings, metrics, statements of findings and the submissions provided in support of the assessments on the .

Key things to know about TEF awards

TEF awards aren't updated each year

TEF assessments now take place every four years. TEF 2023 is the latest award; the next round of assessments is likely to take place in 2027. Awards can be removed if providers fall below the minimum standards.

TEF awards in league tables

The statistical data used by TEF is already used in league tables. The student experience and outcomes measured in the TEF awards use some of the same data we use to compile our league tables. However, TEF uses the data in a different way, notably benchmarking against a range of factors. TEF awards themselves aren’t used in the compilation of league tables.

TEF isn’t a ranking

Unlike our league tables, TEF doesn’t rank or compare higher education providers against each other. The award indicates how a university or college has performed against expectations for its own students and against similar institutions. There are elements of the teaching and student experience that aren’t included in calculating TEF awards. Providers are able to appeal against their awards.

Participation in TEF is voluntary for some

To take part in TEF, universities and colleges must meet the existing quality standards of their home nation and deliver relevant undergraduate courses.

In England, institutions with 500 or more students are required to participate in TEF. Institutions with fewer than 500 students can opt in.

For unis in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, participation is voluntary.

TEF awards and tuition fees

Publicly funded universities and colleges in England with a TEF award may charge up to the maximum tuition fee of £9,250 per year (or £11,100 for accelerated degrees). Institutions without a TEF award can only charge up to £9,000 per year (or £10,800).

TEF also affects tuition fee loans for students at private universities in England. Tuition fee loans for students at a private uni with TEF are £6,165 (or £7,400 for an accelerated degree). Without TEF, tuition fee loans are £6,000 (or £7,200). If the fees you are charged are higher than this, you'll need to pay the rest yourself.

Holding a TEF award has no effect on tuition fees universities in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales may charge.

Making university decisions

Don’t rely solely on TEF when making your decision about what and where to study. Remember that TEF ratings are for a university and not individual courses.

As with our university and subject league tables, TEF awards don’t tell the whole story. Not every course offered by a Gold-rated university will be the best, while universities with lower awards may offer outstanding courses in specific areas.

For a well-rounded view, it’s important to thoroughly research your choice of course and university. As well as TEF, you should use the overall league tables and relevant subject tables. Check course entry requirements. Read the university profiles, and attend open days. Ultimately, you need to be sure that you choose the right course and the right university for you.