Teaching Excellence Framework results out with those awarded gold, silver or bronze able to increase fees in line with inflation

The results of the Teaching Excellence Framework (Tef) have been released by the Higher Education Funding Council for England. Tef saw UK universities given rankings based on teaching quality metrics including student satisfaction, facilities and graduate employment rates.

Universities have been ranked gold, silver, bronze or, in cases where there was insufficient data, provisional. Those given a gold, silver or bronze – the majority of those taking part – will be able to raise tuition fees in line with inflation for the 2018–19 academic year.

The assessment was carried out by a panel of 27 academics, students and higher education experts. Overall 59 universities have been given a gold ranking, with 116 and 56 being given silver and bronze, respectively, and 64 provisional.

‘These results, highlighting the extraordinary strengths of our higher education system, will help students choose which university or college to study at,’ said universities minister Jo Johnson in a statement. ‘The Teaching Excellence Framework is refocusing the sector’s attention on teaching – putting in place incentives that will raise standards across the sector and giving teaching the same status as research.’