In the last Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) results, the University of Birmingham was downgraded from a Gold to a Silver Rating.

In 2017, both the University of Birmingham and Aston University were awarded Gold ratings by the Teaching Excellence Framework; UoB described its education as being ‘of the highest quality found in the UK.’ However, only Aston University has retained this ranking in the recently published results.

The TEF is part of the Office for Students’ overall approach to regulating quality and standards. The 2023 exercise rated providers according to their graduate outcomes and student experience data for the academic years 2018-19 to 2021-22. 

The organisation exists to measure the quality of teaching available at universities, so that students can make an informed choice when choosing the university that they will attend. The results will be visible on the UCAS, and Discover Uni websites.

‘The University of Birmingham scored an overall rating of ‘Silver’ (very high quality) in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) exercise, with individual section ratings of Gold (outstanding) for Outcomes and Bronze (high quality) for Student Experience,’ reported TEF. 

In response to the ranking, a UoB spokesperson stated UoB were ‘particularly pleased’ with the Gold rating of student outcomes, which considers whether graduates have moved onto jobs, and whether those jobs are graduate level. They described themselves as ‘proud to be a destination of choice for those wishing to secure a top-flight career in many areas’. 

‘Our Bronze rating for student experience is disappointing and is based on NSS scores for the 2020 and 2021 academic years,’ they continued. ‘Improvements to student experience are a priority for the University.’

They stated that they have been ‘undertaking significant work’ alongside the Guild of Students, to ‘enhance our academic calendar, students’ experience of timetabling and of assessment support, and to increase the opportunities that students have to give feedback on their teaching and learning experience.’

The assessment uses data from the National Student Survey to find out students’ views on things like the quality of teaching, and assessment and feedback. Dropout rates are also taken into consideration.

This was the first year that the overall rating was broken up into the two categories. Whilst UoB is rated Gold for student outcomes, its student experience is now rated at Bronze level. In contrast, Birmingham City University, which shares the same overall rating of Silver, has a student experience rating of Gold.

Redbrick reached out to students to see if they could speak about the lower rating for student experience.

‘I was really shocked to discover how incompetent the university is,’ said one student, who struggled with accessibility issues. ‘I constantly have to negotiate with staff members to get them to complete the most basic tasks and I’m always having to communicate with each department because they seem incapable of communicating with each other.’

‘I spend a significant amount of time rectifying staff members’ mistakes. I feel as though I have the responsibilities of a manager and yet my ‘job’ is made difficult because I have no actual authority.’

Another student described the welfare offered at UoB as ‘severely lacking’.

‘There’s many self-imposed limitations from flawed systems, meaning even the kindest and most helpful staff are severely limited in how they are able to help. The university frequently fails to even follow their own protocols and systems, which leads to missteps and miserable experiences.’ 

This opinion appeared to be shared amongst their peers, with one complaining that ‘ ‘often the inclusivity guidance (like recording lectures) is treated as advisory.’

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