Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework

Having confidence in the quality of teaching at universities or colleges is important when you are choosing where to study.

Higher education providers have to meet a standard of quality, which is checked by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.

And to help you make more informed choices, we have also introduced the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework – the TEF.

Checking what matters to you

The TEF recognises excellent teaching and student outcomes, supportive environments and ways of learning, and looks at whether studying has allowed students to fulfill their potential after leaving.

The TEF also lets your university or college see how it compares to others. It encourages them to focus on teaching excellence and helps them identify areas for improvement.

Under the TEF, universities and colleges in the UK are rated as gold, silver or bronze (or provisional where there is not yet enough data).

The awards are decided by an independent expert panel including students, academics and employer representatives.

The TEF is voluntary, but most higher education institutions have a TEF award. You can check if yours has taken part by viewing the TEF results.

The TEF currently looks at each institution as a whole. From 2020, universities and colleges taking part will also receive TEF awards for each subject.