Office for Students announces results of TEF 2019

The total number of higher education providers across the UK now in receipt of a TEF award is 282, with 76 providers receiving a gold award, 132 silver and 60 bronze.

To be considered for a TEF rating, providers must meet demanding national quality requirements. The TEF measures excellence above and beyond this, with providers awarded a rating of gold, silver or bronze – or a provisional award where there is not enough data for a full assessment.

This is the third year of TEF assessments. Of the 282 awards, 204 are continuing from previous assessments and 78 are from applications made this year. This year’s applications break down as:

• 64 providers that held a previous award and reapplied; 12 of them increased their rating and four moved down.
• 14 providers that applied this year for the first time.

Awards are determined by an independent panel of experts comprised of students, academics and experts on employment and widening participation in higher education. Drawing on national data combined with detailed submissions by each university or college, the TEF measures excellence in teaching quality, the learning environment, and the educational and professional outcomes achieved by students.

Professor Sir Chris Husbands, Chair of the TEF assessment panel and Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University, said:

‘The TEF results over three years paint a picture of excellence in every corner of higher education, in all regions, for all types of providers serving all types of students. I never cease to be moved by the quality of work undertaken across the sector, whether in large multi-facility universities, specialist institutions or further education colleges.

‘The assessment of hundreds of universities and colleges, using the expertise of the TEF panels, has laid a solid foundation for the next phase of the TEF which will follow the independent review.’

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of the Office for Students, said:

‘All students, no matter what, where or how they study, deserve high-quality teaching which helps them to achieve good outcomes in higher education and leaves them well prepared for life after graduation. Students consistently say that teaching quality is central in determining whether they receive value for money.

‘All providers registered with the us must deliver well-designed courses that provide a high quality academic experience. Since its introduction, the TEF has helped drive improvements in the student experience and outcomes, successfully focusing universities and colleges more sharply on achieving excellence in what they offer to students. We look forward to taking this work forward following the recommendations of the independent review.’

So that all universities and colleges participating in the TEF will be under the same system by 2021, the duration of TEF awards has been adjusted. Previous awards that were due to expire in 2020 have been extended until 2021 and new awards made in 2019 are valid until 2021. The current award holders can be broken down as follows:

In England, publicly funded universities and colleges with a TEF award may charge up to the higher maximum tuition fee for 2019 entrants. The maximum tuition fee they can currently charge for a full-time course is £9,250 per year. Those without a TEF award can charge a maximum of £9,000 per year.

The next phase of the TEF will be defined after the independent review of the TEF has reported.

TEF results are included in Unistats – the official website for comparing data on UK higher education providers.