Evaluation of Year 2 Provider Level TEF

A research project to address the following research objectives:

To evaluate the TEF objectives; i. Better inform students' choices about what and where to study. ii. Raise esteem for teaching. iii. Recognise and reward excellent teaching. iv. Better meet the needs of employers, business, industry and the professions. with:- A. applicants applying in 2017-18 for entry into HE during the 2018-19 academic year, who had the opportunity to use TEF to make their HE choice, and, B. HE providers.

Research with applicants to HE aims to answer the following research questions by administering a bespoke online survey with follow-up interviews exploring findings from the survey in greater depth. • Do applicants have accurate knowledge of TEF and TEF ratings? • How do applicants use and see the value of the TEF rating? • How has TEF affected applicants' perception of HE providers? • How has TEF affected perception of teaching? • Are applicants using TEF satisfied with their HE choice? Research with HE providers aims to answer the following research questions by undertaking in-depth interviews with a number of HE providers and developing a bespoke online survey from the interview responses to be administered across a wider sample of HE providers. • Do providers have accurate knowledge of TEF and TEF bandings? • How has the HE sector engaged with TEF year 2 applications? • How do HE providers use and see the value of their TEF rating? • What steps have providers taken to maintain or improve their TEF rating? • What is the TEF impact on: o Teaching approach? o Teaching recruitment? o Widening participation? o Confidence in the HE sector?