So far, we’ve covered three important factors to consider when choosing a university: reputation, rankings and league tables, and employability.
Students are likely to come across information on these factors through their own research. However, there is one lesser known factor they may not encounter — and it’s backed by the UK government: the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
How the TEF works
The Teaching Excellence Framework is a relatively new assessment — the first TEF results were published in 2017. Although the framework assesses universities in England, universities in other parts of the UK can also participate.
The goals of the TEF are to improve the student experience by measuring metrics that impact students directly, like the quality of teaching and the learning environment and what students do after graduation.
Universities are assessed by an independent panel of academics, experts, and — perhaps most surprisingly — students themselves.
TEF ratings explained
Universities that participate in the framework are awarded a rating of gold, silver, bronze, or provisional based on the following factors:
- Achievement outcomes for students from all backgrounds
- Engagement in research opportunities and activities
- Progression to graduate-level employment
- Course design and assessment
- Skills and employment training
- Student-community engagement
- Students’ commitment to learning
- Retention rates
Gold and silver ratings are awarded to universities with outstanding and high-quality outcomes in all of these areas.
Universities with bronze or provisional ratings meet the teaching quality standards set by UK Higher Education in only some of the above areas.
However, just because a university scores a bronze or provisional doesn’t mean they lack teaching excellence — it may mean there is insufficient data to award a better rating.
Universities which don’t participate in the framework for whatever reason are assessed by other, nationally accredited means.
The problem with the Teaching Excellence Framework
No ranking system is perfect, and the TEF is no exception. In fact, the framework has sparked quite a bit of controversy since it was first implemented.
Although the framework is government-sponsored, some institutions have claimed TEF ratings are subjective and do not provide an accurate assessment of teaching quality.
Some would even argue that the entire concept of “teaching excellence” is subjective — how does one measure teaching excellence empirically and without bias?
Another problem with the Teaching Excellence Framework is a lack of participation. Since the TEF is a voluntary assessment, universities can choose to opt out.
In fact, less than 30 universities applied or re-applied for the TEF in 2018 — a sharp decline from over 130 in 2017. Approximately 300 UK universities hold a TEF ranking.
Universities with a TEF ranking may also charge higher tuition fees. TEF-assessed universities may charge a maximum of £9,250 per year, whereas those without a ranking are capped at £9,000 per year (for UK nationals).
Nevertheless, many have applauded the introduction of the TEF, calling it a godsend that brings long-term benefits for students and universities.
Whereas league tables and similar ranking systems place more emphasis on research opportunities, the TEF focuses more on teaching excellence and the classroom experience — factors which matter a lot to students.
How the TEF benefits students
Despite some of the controversy surrounding this new framework, the TEF is one of the most beneficial tools for students to use when choosing a university.
The TEF is the only ranking system that’s sponsored by the UK government, and it’s one of the few assessments where students have a direct say in the ranking process.
The framework also considers a wider scope when assessing universities. It includes all aspects of the student experience, including student satisfaction, quality of teaching, and post-graduation outcomes, among others.
Since the results are published each year, and because universities have the chance to improve their ratings, students can see how the data changes from one year to the next.
Finally, both the university’s submissions to the TEF panel and statements from the TEF assessment panel explaining the reasoning behind a particular award are public. This gives students the opportunity to read all the fine details before deciding for themselves.
Conclusion
This post wraps up our four-part series on choosing a university.
To sum up, the key factors to consider when choosing a university are reputation, rankings and league tables, employability, and the Teaching Excellence Framework.
However, the main takeaway is to use all the tools at your disposal. There is no foolproof ranking system or methodology that will point you to the perfect choice.
All of the factors we’ve talked about so far have their flaws, but it’s up to you to synthesize the data and make the best decision based on your aspirations, needs and preferences.
Still don’t have a clue on where to start or need additional guidance? International Student Pathfinder is here to help! We know you have enough on your plate as a prospective student. (Fun fact: our team is comprised of UK graduates with a strong network of former students from all over the world. So when we say we’re speaking from experience, we mean it!)
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Grab a copy of International Student Pathfinder: The Essential Guide on UK Universities and Careers – the definitive guide to university life from orientation to graduation and beyond!
