Q How is higher education (teaching and research) evaluated in the UK? A The quality of higher education ( teaching) is assessed by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), whose official reports can be consulted by area of study or institution. The quality of research (doctorate and master research degrees) is assessed by the various bodies which fund research through the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). The results are awarded on a 1 (lower) to 5 and 5* scale.