UK universities that have challenged their rating in the newly revamped Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) are unlikely to have their cases resolved until the end of the year, leaving them at a disadvantage during much of the crucial student recruitment period.
Nearly two months on from the TEF “results day”, more than 50 institutions – including 25 with university status – are still awaiting the outcome of their appeal, with the ongoing challenges threatening to undermine the credibility of the exercise, according to experts.
Times Higher Education understands that universities have been warned not to expect appeals to be resolved until 18 December due to the volume of institutions challenging their initial rating.
The Office for Students, which runs the exercise, said that TEF panels were “carefully considering all representations received, but we hope to publish most ratings before the end of the year”.
