TEF data

About TEF data

Data plays a key role in informing TEF assessments. Here, we explain what data the TEF has drawn on to date, and how it has been used to assess performance.

What data is used in TEF?

The TEF draws on nationally collected data to measure the performance of higher education providers in the following areas:

Student satisfaction - How satisfied students are with their course, as measured by responses to the National Student Survey (NSS).
Continuation - The proportion of students that continue their studies from year to year, as measured by data collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
Employment outcomes - What students do after they graduate, as measured by responses to the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey (DLHE).

In previous TEF exercises if a provider didn’t have TEF metrics, it couldn't receive a TEF rating but it could opt in to receive a Provisional TEF award.

Supplementary data

These metrics are considered alongside further data, about student characteristics as well as the provider’s location and provision.

Written submission

Providers also submit written evidence to illustrate their performance, and make a case for excellence.

Further technical information

Full details about how metrics are produced and used have been published as technical guidance for each year of TEF assessment.

Technical guidance for TEF Year Four

In October 2018, the OfS published updated guidance for the TEF specification. It sets out the assessment framework and specifies the metrics, criteria and process for the implementation of TEF in Year Four.

The resources below provide technical information about TEF. They are intended to support providers’ understanding of how we have used individualised student data to produce the TEF Year Four metrics and contextual data.

TEF Year Four metrics – technical document
The algorithms applied to the student records which are used to calculate the Year Four metrics
TEF Year Four metrics – sector averages for benchmarking calculations
Sector average proportions for each metric for each unique combination of benchmarking factors
TEF Year Four – contextual data on UK unemployment
Data map on UK unemployment rates
TEF Year Four – contextual data on UK highly skilled employment
Data map on the proportion of employed graduates in highly skilled employment.

Technical guidance for TEF Year Three

In October 2017, the Department for Education (DfE) published the TEF (Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework) specification. It sets out the assessment framework and specifies the metrics, criteria and process for the implementation of TEF in Year Three.

The resources below provide guidance and technical documents for providers.

The resources are intended to support providers’ understanding of how we have used individualised student data to produce the TEF Year Three metrics and contextual data.

TEF Year Three metrics - technical document
The algorithms applied to the student records which are used to calculate the Year Three metrics
TEF Year Three metrics - rebuild instructions for individualised student data file
Details of how some of the data in the TEF1718 workbook can be rebuilt from the five individualised files we provide
TEF Year Three metrics - sector averages for benchmarking calculations
Sector average proportions for each metric for each unique combination of benchmark factors
TEF Year Three metrics - full descriptions
Descriptions of metrics based on data from: NSS; HESA/ILR; DLHE survey; LEO (supplementary metrics)
TEF Year Three - contextual data on UK unemployment
Data map on UK unemployment rates
TEF Year Three - questions and answers
Answers to frequently asked questions about TEF Year Three.

These resources were formerly hosted by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, and may contain links that are no longer current.

Technical guidance for TEF Year Two

Technical guidance for TEF Year Two was published on the HEFCE website.

Last updated 24 June 2020 + show all updates

24 June 2020: Technical information moved to this page

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