The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) evaluates universities on criteria including teaching quality, learning environment and student outcomes, taking into account factors such as student satisfaction, retention rates and employment.

The Gold rating means that the teaching at the University of Bath is of the highest quality found in the UK. The TEF Panel judged that Bath delivers consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for its students.

The award follows last month’s Guardian University Guide 2018, which placed the University fifth in the UK.

The TEF panel praised the University for its strong employment orientation that ensures students develop the knowledge and skills most highly valued by employers, with extensive professional accreditation across the curriculum and support via alumni mentoring through the Bath Connection.

Bath graduates enjoy a starting salary on average £4,500 higher than the national average for first degree graduates in full time UK employment. The University is ranked sixth and seventh respectively for graduate prospects in The Guardian University Guide 2018 and The Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017.

The University was also endorsed for its embedded strategy that recognises and rewards excellent teaching, including institutional teaching awards, HEA accreditation, a University Teaching Development Fund and an internal course for enhancing academic practice.

Also highlighted by the report were the top quality physical and digital resources used by the students to enhance their learning. This included a special mention of the library provision, Bath being one of the first universities in the UK to provide 24 hour library access.

President and Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Dame Glynis Breakwell, said: “This Gold award supports our established reputation for providing an excellent learning environment, and investing in world-class facilities to offer an exceptional educational experience.

“It is our role and privilege, as their university of choice, to stretch the capabilities of our talented students and to support them to do their very best work.”

The TEF panel also commended the University’s embedded culture which values students as co-creators of learning through its Transforming Curriculum and Assessment scheme, and also its frequent engagement of students with developments from the forefront of research, scholarship and professional practice via final year dissertations and projects.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Teaching) Professor Peter Lambert said: “I’m extremely proud of the dedication and hard work of our staff and students in achieving this rating.

“We have a strong working relationship with our Students’ Union and engage with our students to enhance aspects of their learning such as developments in group working, feedback and personalised timetables. Our long-standing use of peer-assisted learning (PAL) and our peer mentoring scheme are prominent examples of how our students contribute to the overall learning experience.

“Our distinctive and supportive learning environment ensures that we continue to attract high calibre and highly motivated students.”