The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)

What is the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)?

The TEF assesses excellence in teaching, learning, and positive graduate outcomes at undergraduate level at universities and colleges.

It is run by the Office for Students, with 228 universities and colleges in England currently taking part. The TEF ratings are published in the UCAS search tool. Those listed as ‘pending’ are still being assessed. The ratings will last for four years.

Why are TEF ratings important?

• You can see what TEF rating a university or college has in our search tool – this will give you a better idea of its teaching, learning, experience, and graduate outcomes. 
• You can use the TEF ratings to help you decide if a course, or university or college, is right for you and your goals.
• The TEF ensures that universities and colleges are focused on delivering excellence in terms of teaching, learning, experience, and graduate outcomes for their students.
• TEF ratings form a part of the bigger picture when making decisions about where to apply– which also includes league tables, National Student Survey outcomes, UniBuddy, open days, and research on university and college websites, as well as the UCAS Hub. 

What do the TEF ratings mean?

Universities and colleges taking part in the TEF receive one overall rating, made up of two ratings: one for student experience,and one for graduate outcomes.

There are three ratings: gold, silver and bronze. A university or college receives a lower category of 'requires improvement' if it has not shown enough evidence of excellence above the TEF minimum quality requirements.