The HE landscape

stay up to date with all the changes happening in higher education, from office for students to the teaching excellence framework

TEF

The Teaching Excellence Framework, also known as the ‘Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework’ was introduced by the government in 2016. It aims to drive up the standards of teaching in Higher Education Institutions by assessing them on teaching standards, student outcomes, and student satisfaction. Institutions can get a gold, silver or bronze rating which is hoped will help prospective students in choosing high quality places to study.

Institutions with a TEF rating can charge a maximum of £9,250 per year, whilst those without can charge £9,000. Previously the government intended for fees to be able to rise with inflation, however after significant opposition this decision was delayed for the foreseeable future.

AUGAR FEES REVIEW

The Augar Review of Post-18 education in England, led by Phillip Augar, commissioned by then Prime Minister, Theresa May, assessed how post-18 education is delivered and made a series of recommendations around fees, student finance repayment, further education and apprenticeships. It is unclear if these recommendations will come into effect.

OFFICE FOR STUDENTS

The Office for Students was introduced by Jo Johnson during his first stint as Universities Minister in 2015-18. OfS is an independent regulator of Higher Education. It aims to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers. OfS also provide funding for different initiatives to widen access to higher education, such as Future Quest.

DEGREE APPRENTICESHIPS

Degree apprenticeships are a new type of programme offered by some universities. Students can achieve a full bachelor's or master's degree as part of their apprenticeship. This route gives students a chance to earn whilst they gain their degree, and have the course fees covered by their employer and the government. Apprentices are employed throughout the programme, and spend part of their time at university and the rest with their employer.