Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF): the ratings in full [updated for 2019]

The Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF) was introduced by the government in 2017 as an assessment of the quality of teaching in universities and colleges, as well as the performance of those universities and colleges in terms of graduate-level employment or further study. 

The last assessments were published in 2019 and, at the time of writing, no further TEF assessments are planned. Providers have been asked not to use their TEF awards in marketing materials from September 2021 - so you shouldn't see this award being mentioned by universities and colleges.

TEF – or something like it – may be used again one day. In late 2021, the Office for Students is due to consult on proposals for a potential new framework. 

The TEF assessments in this article were granted in 2019 and this article remains published on The Uni Guide for reference.
 

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The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) is a relatively new measure in Higher Education which assesses the standard and quality of teaching in undergraduate study across universities and colleges in the UK.



Read our full guide to the TEF rankings, then explore the 'gold', 'silver', 'bronze' and 'provisional' ratings below (updated for 2019) below:

• University of Abertay Dundee: Silver  
• ABI College Limited: Provisional 
• Aberystwyth University: Gold
• Abertay University: Silver
• Abingdon and Witney College: Silver 
• ACM Guildford Limited: Bronze
• Academy of Contemporary Music Limited: Provisional 
• Access to Music Limited: Provisional 
• Accrington and Rossendale College: Bronze 
• Activate Learning: Silver 
• AECC University College: Silver
• ALRA: Silver
• Amersham & Wycombe College: Bronze 
• Anglia Ruskin University: Silver 
• Anglo-European College of Chiropractic: Silver 
• Architectural Association (Incorporated): Provisional 
• Arden University Limited: Provisional
• Arts Educational Schools (The): Gold
• Arts University Bournemouth: Gold 
• University of the Arts, London: Silver 
• Askham Bryan College: Bronze 
• Assemblies of God Incorporated: Bronze
• Aston University: Gold 
• Aylesbury College: Bronze 
• Bangor University: Gold 
• Barnet & Southgate College: Bronze
• Barnfield College: Bronze
• Bath College: Silver
• University of Bath: Gold 
• Bath Spa University: Silver 
• University of Bedfordshire: Silver 
• BIMM Limited: Bronze
• Birkbeck, University of London: Silver
• Birkbeck College: Silver 
• University of Birmingham: Gold 
• University College Birmingham: Silver 
• Birmingham City University: Silver 
• Bishop Auckland College: Bronze
• Bishop Burton College: Bronze 
• Bishop Grosseteste University: Gold 
• Blackburn College: Bronze 
• Blackpool and the Fylde College: Gold 
• BMC (Brooksby Melton College): Bronze 
• University of Bolton: Silver 
• Boston College: Bronze
• The Bournemouth and Poole College: Bronze
• Bournemouth University: Silver 
• Bournville College: Provisional 
• BPP University Limited: Bronze 
• University of Bradford: Silver 
• Bradford College: Bronze 
• Bridgwater and Taunton College: Silver
• University of Brighton: Silver 
• University of Bristol: Silver 
• Bristol Baptist College: Provisional 
• Brit College Limited: Bronze
• British School of Osteopathy: Bronze 
• Bromley College of Further and Higher Education: Silver
• Brooklands College: Silver
• Brunel University London: Silver 
• University of Buckingham: Gold 
• Buckinghamshire New University: Silver
• Burnley College: Silver
• Burton and South Derbyshire College: Silver
• Bury College: Silver
• Calderdale College: Silver 
• University of Cambridge: Gold 
• Cambridge Regional College: Bronze 
• Canterbury Christ Church University: Silver 
• Canterbury College: Silver 
• Cardiff Metropolitan University: Silver 
• Cardiff University: Silver 
• Cardinal Newman College: Provisional 
• University of Central Lancashire: Silver 
• Central Bedfordshire College: Silver
• University of Chester: Silver 
• University of Chichester: Silver 
• Chichester College: Silver 
• Chicken Shed Theatre Trust: Silver 
• Cirencester College: Provisional 
• City and Guilds of London Art School Limited: Provisional 
• City College Norwich: Provisional
• City College Plymouth: Gold 
• City of Bristol College: Silver 
• City of Liverpool College: Silver
• City, University of London: Silver 
• Cleveland College of Art and Design: Gold
• Cliff College: Provisional
• Colchester Institute: Silver 
• Conservatoire for Dance and Drama: Gold 
• Cornwall College: Silver 
• Courtauld Institute of Art: Silver 
• Coventry University: Gold 
• University for the Creative Arts: Gold
• Croydon College: Provisional 
• University of Cumbria: Bronze 
• CWR: Provisional 
• Darlington College: Silver 
• De Montfort University: Gold 
• Derby College: Silver
• University of Derby: Gold 
• Doncaster College: Bronze 
• Dudley College: Provisional
• University of Dundee: Gold 
• University of Durham: Gold
• Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College: Silver
• University of East Anglia: Gold 
• East Durham College: Silver 
• East End Computing & Business College Limited: Provisional 
• East Kent College: Provisional 
• University of East London: Bronze
• East Riding College: Silver
• East Surrey College: Bronze
• East Sussex College Group: Bronze
• Edge Hill University: Gold 
• Edward James Foundation Limited: Provisional 
• University of Essex: Gold 
• University College of Estate Management: Provisional 
• University of Exeter: Gold 
• Exeter College: Gold 
• Fairfield School of Business Ltd: Provisional 
• Falmouth University: Gold 
• Fareham College: Bronze
• Farnborough College of Technology: Bronze 
• Furness College: Silver 
• Futureworks Training Limited: Silver
• Gateshead College: Silver 
• University of Gloucestershire: Silver 
• Goldsmiths, University of London: Silver
• Goldsmiths College: Bronze 
• Grafton College Limited: Provisional 
• Grantham College: Silver
• Greater Brighton Metropolitan College: Silver 
• University of Greenwich: Silver 
• Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education: Silver
• Guildford College of Further and Higher Education: Bronze
• Guildhall School of Music & Drama: Gold
• Hadlow College: Bronze 
• Halesowen College: Silver 
• Harper Adams University: Gold 
• Hartlepool College of Further Education: Silver 
• Hartpury College: Gold 
• Heart of Worcestershire College: Silver 
• Hereford College of Arts: Silver 
• Herefordshire and Ludlow College: Silver
• Heriot-Watt University: Silver 
• Hertford Regional College: Silver 
• University of Hertfordshire: Silver 
• Highbury College Portsmouth: Bronze 
• Holy Cross College: Bronze
• Hopwood Hall College: Bronze 
• University of Huddersfield: Gold 
• Hugh Baird College: Gold 
• University of Hull: Silver 
• Hull College: Bronze 
• Hy Education Limited: Provisional 
• ICMP Management Limited: Bronze
• Imperial College London: Gold 
• The College of Integrated Chinese Medicine: Bronze
• Kaplan Open Learning (Essex) Limited: Gold
• University of Keele: Gold 
• Kensington Education Foundation Limited: Provisional 
• University of Kent: Gold 
• Kingham Hill Trust: Provisional 
• King's College London: Silver 
• Kingston College: Silver 
• Kingston Maurward College: Bronze 
• Kingston University: Bronze
• Kirklees College: Silver 
• KLC Limited: Provisional 
• University of Lancaster: Gold 
• University of Law Limited: Silver
• University of Leeds: Gold 
• Leeds Beckett University: Silver 
• Leeds City College: Bronze 
• Leeds College of Music: Silver
• Leeds Trinity University: Silver 
• University of Leicester: Silver 
• Leicester College: Gold 
• University of Lincoln: Gold 
• Lincoln College: Silver 
• University of Liverpool: Silver 
• Liverpool Hope University: Gold 
• Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts: Gold 
• Liverpool John Moores University: Silver 
• University College London: Silver 
• London Bridge Business Academy Limited: Provisional 
• London College of Creative Media Limited: Provisional 
• London Institute of Banking & Finance: Silver
• London Metropolitan University: Bronze 
• London School of Business: Bronze
• London School of Business and Management Limited: Provisional 
• London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE): Bronze 
• London School of Management Education Limited: Bronze
• London School of Science & Technology Limited: Provisional 
• London School of Theology: Provisional 
• London South Bank University: Silver 
• London Studio Centre Limited: Gold
• Loughborough College: Gold
• Loughborough University: Gold 
• Luther King House Educational Trust: Bronze
• Macclesfield College: Provisional 
• University of Manchester: Silver 
• LTE Group: Silver 
• Manchester Metropolitan University: Silver 
• Markfield Institute of Higher Education: Silver
• Met Film School Limited: Provisional 
• The Metanoia Institute: Bronze
• Middlesbrough College: Gold 
• Middlesex University: Silver 
• Milton Keynes College: Bronze 
• Mont Rose College of Management and Sciences Limited: Silver
• Moorlands College: Silver
• Morley College Limited: Provisional
• Myerscough College: Gold
• Nazarene Theological College: Silver
• NCG: Silver 
• NCH at Northeastern Limited: Provisional
• Neath Port Talbot College: Silver 
• Nelson College London Limited: Silver
• New City College: Silver
• New College Durham: Silver
• New College Stamford: Silver 
• Newbury College: Provisional 
• University of Newcastle upon Tyne: Gold 
• Newham College of Further Education: Provisional 
• Newman University: Silver 
• Norland College Limited: Gold
• North East Surrey College of Technology: Bronze 
• North Hertfordshire College: Silver 
• North Lindsey College: Silver 
• North West Regional College: Provisional 
• University of Northampton: Gold 
• Northampton College: Silver 
• Northern College of Acupuncture: Bronze
• Northumberland College: Bronze 
• University of Northumbria at Newcastle: Silver 
• Norwich University of the Arts: Gold 
• University of Nottingham: Gold 
• Nottingham Trent University: Gold 
• Oaklands College: Silver 
• School of Oriental and African Studies: Bronze 
• University of Oxford: Gold 
• Oxford Brookes University: Silver 
• Oxford Business College UK Limited: Provisional 
• Pearson College Limited: Provisional 
• Peter Symonds College: Silver
• Petroc: Silver 
• Plumpton College: Bronze 
• University of Plymouth: Silver
• Plymouth College of Art: Bronze 
• Point Blank Limited: Silver
• University of Portsmouth: Gold 
• Preston College: Bronze 
• Queen Mary University of London: Silver 
• Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education: Silver
• Ravensbourne: Silver 
• University of Reading: Silver 
• Reaseheath College: Silver
• Regent's University of London: Bronze
• Redcar & Cleveland College: Silver
• Richmond, the American International University in London, Inc.: Provisional
• Riverside College: Gold
• RNN Group: Gold
• Robert Gordon University: Gold 
• Roehampton University: Silver
• Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance: Gold 
• Royal Academy of Music: Gold 
• Royal Agricultural University: Silver 
• Royal Central School of Speech and Drama: Gold 
• Royal College of Music: Gold 
• Royal Holloway, University of London: Silver 
• Royal Northern College of Music: Gold 
• Royal Veterinary College: Gold 
• RTC Education Ltd: Bronze
• Runshaw College: Silver
• SAE Education Limited: Bronze
• University of Salford: Bronze 
• Salford City College: Bronze 
• Salvation Army: Provisional 
• Selby College: Silver 
• University of Sheffield: Silver 
• Sheffield Hallam University: Silver 
• Shrewsbury Colleges Group: Bronze
• SOAS, University of London: Silver
• Solihull College and University Centre: Gold 
• South & City College Birmingham: Bronze
• South Devon College: Gold 
• South Essex College of Further and Higher Education: Bronze
• South Thames Colleges Group: Bronze
• South Tyneside College: Silver 
• South West College: Provisional 
• University of Southampton: Silver 
• Southampton Solent University: Silver
• Southport College: Bronze 
• Sparsholt College: Gold
• Spurgeon's College: Provisional 
• University of St Andrews: Gold 
• University of St Mark & St John: Silver 
• St Mary's College: Bronze
• St Mary's University, Twickenham: Silver 
• St Mellitus College Trust: Gold
• St. George's, University of London: Bronze 
• St. Nicholas Montessori Training Limited: Bronze
• Staffordshire University: Gold
• Stockton Riverside College: Silver 
• Stoke On Trent College: Bronze
• Stratford College London Limited: Provisional 
• Strode College: Silver 
• University of Suffolk: Bronze 
• University of Sunderland: Silver 
• Sunderland College: Silver 
• University of Surrey: Gold 
• University of Sussex: Silver 
• Sussex Coast College Hastings: Provisional 
• Sussex Downs College: Silver 
• Swansea University: Gold
• Swindon College: June
• Teesside University: Silver 
• Tertiary Education Services Limited: Provisional 
• The Oldham College: Silver
• The Trafford College Group: Bronze
• Tresham College of Further and Higher Education: Provisional 
• Trinity College (Bristol) Limited: Provisional 
• Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance: Silver
• Truro and Penwith College: Gold 
• Tyne Coast College: Silver
• Tyne Metropolitan College: Bronze 
• UCK Limited: Bronze
• Unified Seevic Palmer's College: Silver
• University College of Osteopathy: Silver
• UK College of Business and Computing Ltd: Provisional 
• Wakefield College: Silver 
• University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Silver
• University of Warwick: Silver 
• Warwickshire College: Bronze 
• West Herts College: Gold 
• West Kent and Ashford College: Silver 
• University of West London: Silver 
• West Nottinghamshire College: Silver
• University of the West of England, Bristol: Gold
• University of Westminster: Bronze 
• Weston College of Further and Higher Education: Gold 
• Wigan and Leigh College: Silver 
• Wiltshire College: Bronze 
• University of Winchester: Silver 
• University of Wolverhampton: Silver
• University of Worcester: Silver 
• Wrexham Glyndwr University: Silver 
• Writtle University College: Bronze 
• Yeovil College: Provisional
• University of York: Gold
• York College: Silver 
• York St John University: Bronze 

 

What do the TEF ratings mean?

• Gold = outstanding
• Silver = high quality
• Bronze = satisfactory

The ratings are awarded by a panel looking at a range of measures centred around 'teaching quality', 'learning environment' and 'outcomes'.

To break this down further, these measures include:

• How courses are designed and assessed.
• The amount of contact time students typically spend with tutors.
• How academically stretched students are.
• How well students develop their knowledge throughout the course.
• Official statistics around drop-out rates, student satisfaction and graduate employment.

A gold rating tells you that the university has consistently scored highly across the board, whereas a silver or bronze rating indicates the uni hasn't scored top marks in one - or more - areas.

Read our full guide on the TEF to find out more about the rankings - and how important they are when choosing university courses.