The Office for Students has proposed a new annual process for the Teaching Excellence Framework that would put all OfS-registered providers on a cyclical assessment timetable, with selected providers notified by the end of July, submissions due in mid-December and deferrals allowed only in limited circumstances.
Key facts
- The OfS wants all registered providers assessed on a cyclical basis in the future TEF.
- Selected providers would be notified by the end of July each year and would have two weeks to confirm whether they do not want to apply for TEF ratings.
- Providers would normally have 4.5 months to prepare submissions, with deadlines expected in mid-December.
- Deferrals would not normally be permitted, but short extensions of up to four weeks could be requested in some cases.
- The first annual timeline published in the consultation runs from July 2027 to January 2029 for publication after representations.
What does this mean for students and universities?
The proposal matters because it sets the timetable and evidence requirements for institutions that seek TEF ratings, which are used to recognise quality publicly. For universities and other providers, the OfS says the new approach is meant to give assessors the evidence they need while also giving providers more time to prepare than under the 2023 TEF.
For providers, the immediate practical step would be to respond quickly after July notification. Those with sufficient data would have two weeks to confirm if they are not applying for TEF ratings, while those seeking a rating would need to prepare provider evidence, student contact details, any student submission and, where applicable, support an on-site visit. The OfS also says providers would need to publish and display their TEF ratings if awarded.
The consultation also sets out narrow grounds for a short extension. Small providers could request extra time if the deadline clashes with another significant external assessment or inspection using many of the same staff, and providers with a student-experience visit could also ask for a short extension. The OfS says longer delays would disrupt the timetable and could affect when outcomes are published to inform student choice.
How would the TEF timetable work?
Under the proposed process, the OfS would complete the activities covered by earlier proposals by the end of July each year so it can use the latest student outcomes and National Student Survey data to decide who is selected and whether they have sufficient data for TEF ratings. For the first cycle, the OfS would also publish the final TEF guidance and data dashboards by the end of July 2027.
The timeline in the consultation shows provider submissions due in mid-December 2027, TEF student submissions due at the end of January 2028, assessments carried out between January and July 2028, and final outcomes notified by the end of July 2028. Ratings and associated material would then be published either at the end of September 2028 for providers that do not make representations, or at the end of January 2029 for providers that do.
What evidence would providers need?
The OfS proposes different evidence requirements depending on whether a provider applies for TEF ratings. All providers would be assessed against conditions B1, B2, B3 and B4, and all would need to submit evidence, facilitate a visit if applicable and publish outcomes.
Providers not applying for TEF ratings would normally need a submission showing how they meet the relevant quality requirements for student experience and, for student outcomes, any available indicators with contextual information only if the OfS identifies indicators of concern. Providers applying for TEF ratings would need further evidence, including sufficient NSS indicators for student experience and sufficient student outcome indicators, including at least continuation, progression and another post-study indicator.
The OfS also says that providers applying for TEF ratings would need to provide relevant staff and student contact details, respond to information requests, facilitate an independent student submission if they are being rated for student experience, and comply with any student recruitment limit that applies.
Why is the OfS changing the process?
The regulator says the proposal is designed to create a clearer and more consistent process, help providers prepare effectively and give assessors the evidence they need for robust and timely judgements. It also says it has heard from the 2023 TEF that providers wanted more time to prepare submissions, which is why it is proposing a 4.5-month window instead of 3.5 months.
The OfS says it would not normally charge a fee for TEF ratings because those assessments also support continuous improvement. But it would charge a fee for an assessment against only the minimum requirements or for a quality investigation, with recovery of actual costs through the fee framework.
Questions and answers
Will providers be able to defer a TEF assessment?
Not normally. The OfS says deferrals would be available only in limited circumstances where going ahead would not be in students’ interests, such as major organisational change or a serious event that materially affects normal operations.
How much extra time could a provider request?
The OfS proposes short extensions of no more than four weeks, and only in specific situations: when a small provider’s deadline clashes with another major external assessment or inspection, or when a provider has a student-experience visit as part of its assessment.
