Research Excellence Framework
Securing a world-class, dynamic and responsive research base across the full academic spectrum within UK higher education
The REF is the UK’s system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. It first took place in 2014 and 2021. The next exercise is planned for 2029.
What is the REF’s purpose?
- Inform the allocation of block-grant research funding to HEIs based on research quality
- Provide accountability for public investment in research and produce evidence of the benefits of this investment
- Provide insights into the health of research in HEIs in the UK
The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the UK’s system for assessing the excellence of research in UK higher education institutions (HEIs). The REF outcomes are used to inform the allocation of around £2 billion per year of public funding for universities’ research. The REF is a process of expert review, carried out by sub-panels focused on subject-based units of assessment (UoAs), under the guidance of overarching main panels and advisory panels.
For the purposes of the REF, research is defined as a process of investigation leading to new insights, effectively shared.
Latest news
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Open Access Policy and FAQ updated
We’ve made some updates to the REF 2029 Open Access Policy and the accompanying FAQ. These changes and clarifications reflect feedback from our ongoing engagement with the sector. It’s the first time we’re using a change log which makes it easier to track any edits. The main policy page now shows only the latest version, but…
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Research fellowships demonstrating research independence
We’ve published a list of research fellowships demonstrating research independence for the REF 2029 volume measure. This list, updated from REF 2021, identifies competitive research fellowships that inherently require or support research independence, as confirmed by the respective funders. It serves as a reference for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) when determining which staff meet the…
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New blog: People, culture and environment – building research excellence
Research England has published a new blog by their Executive Chair Professor Dame Jessica Corner on how REF 2029 offers a chance to recognise the environments that shape research excellence and ensure the UK’s system supports talent, innovation and impact.
