Change log – Section 4 – Contributions to Knowledge and Understanding (CKU) guidance

Last updated: 10 December 2025

Section 4 – Contributions to Knowledge and Understanding (CKU) guidance shows the latest version of the guidance. Any changes made since the initial publication are detailed below.

Content

Introduction text
2. Introduction
3. Key changes for REF 2029
4. Disciplinary level evidence statements
5. Eligible outputs
6. Substantive link
7. Representative submissions
9. Required output data
10. Additional output data
18. Double-weighting of outputs
19. Reserve list
25. Audit

Introduction text

Paragraph number: Introduction text
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: All REF 2029 guidance will be formally finalised in 2026 and therefore guidance modules may be subject to small revisions in the interim.

Additionally, elements of this guidance will be considered as part of the final consultation of REF 2029 guidance in early 2026 and therefore may be subject to revision when the REF 2029 guidance is formally finalised in 2026. We anticipate that this will include, but not be limited to the processes underpinning reserve outputs and submission of outputs authored during an excluded contract.
Updated content: All REF 2029 guidance will be formally finalised in 2026 and therefore guidance modules may be subject to small revisions in the interim.

2. Introduction

Paragraph number: 2.0.1.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: The Contributions to Knowledge and Understanding (CKU) element of REF 2029 captures information about each UoA’s various and diverse contributions to knowledge and understanding through the assessment of:

a pool of submitted research outputs – the number of outputs is determined by the volume measure, multiplied by 2.5 and rounded to the nearest whole number

elements of the disciplinary-level evidence statement (DLS)
Updated content: The Contributions to Knowledge and Understanding (CKU) element of REF 2029 captures information about each UoA’s various and diverse contributions to knowledge and understanding through the assessment of:

a pool of submitted research outputs – the number of outputs is determined by the volume measure, multiplied by 2.5 and rounded to the nearest whole number

Paragraph number: 2.0.2.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Together, these two components are expected to account for 50% of the overall quality profile. This is subject to change depending on the outcome of the PCE pilot and this paragraph may be updated.
Updated content: This component accounts for 55% of the overall quality profile.

Paragraph number: 2.0.3.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Full detail on the weighting of the disciplinary level evidence statement will be provided in due course.
Updated content: The extent to which submissions are representative of the submitting unit will be addressed within the Strategy, People and Research Environment (SPRE) element.

3. Key changes for REF 2029

Paragraph number: 3.4.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Removal of the REF 2021 Minimum or maximum output requirement
Updated content: Removal of the REF 2021 Minimum output requirement

Paragraph number: 3.4.1.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: In a change from REF 2021 there will also be no minimum or maximum output requirements for individual staff members.
Updated content: In a change from REF 2021 there will also be no minimum output requirements for individual staff members.

Paragraph number: 3.4.2.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Institutions are required to demonstrate the representativeness of their output submissions.
Updated content: Institutions are required to demonstrate the representativeness of their output submissions; this will include the expectation to address where more than five outputs are associated with a single substantive link.

Paragraph number: 3.5.1.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Details of the requirements relating to the CKU elements of the disciplinary level evidence statement will be published at a later date.
Updated content: Disciplinary level statements will not be introduced for REF 2029.

4. Disciplinary level evidence statements

Paragraph number: 4.0.1.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: The disciplinary evidence statements will contain multiple sections which will contribute to all three quality sub-profiles of the assessment (Contributions to Knowledge and Understanding, Engagement and Impact, and People Culture and Environment).
Updated content: Disciplinary level statements will not be introduced for REF 2029.

Paragraph number: 4.0.2.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: The statement will take the form of a structured questionnaire and focus on quantitative and qualitative evidence.
Updated content: The extent to which submissions are representative of the submitting unit will be used as part of the assessment of the SPRE element.

Paragraph number: 4.0.3. – deleted
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: There will be strict word limits, and we do not envisage long narrative components.
Updated content: n/a

Paragraph number: 4.0.4. – deleted
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: As outlined in the Initial Decisions additional guidance will be published separately on the content of the disciplinary level evidence statements.
Updated content: n/a

5. Eligible outputs

Paragraph number: 5.0.6.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: There will be an opportunity in the disciplinary level evidence statement for institutions to contextualise the distribution of outputs, drawing on the processes described in the CoP.
Updated content: There will be an opportunity in the unit level SPRE statement for Units to contextualise the distribution of outputs, drawing on the processes described in the CoP.

Paragraph number: 5.6.5.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: A glossary of output categories and collection formats will be published. Further guidance on types of outputs will be published later in the Autumn in an update to REF 2021 Guidance on Submissions Annex K, which offers a good indication of the potential range of outputs.
Updated content: A glossary of output categories and collection formats will be published. Further guidance on types of outputs will be published at a later date in an update to REF 2021 Guidance on Submissions Annex K, which offers a good indication of the potential range of outputs.

6. Substantive link

Paragraph number: 6.3.1.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Eligible employment relationships are defined as:

A minimum of 0.2 FTE for at least 12 months continuous employment (as defined by Section 210 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA 1996) or the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996) by the HEI making the submission. Continuous employment may be demonstrated by a sequence of consecutive contracts AND

The role descriptor includes an explicit expectation of research activity (as distinct from scholarship) within the role. ‘Research activity’ is not restricted by profession and an eligible employment relationship may be with any staff member who undertakes, enables or supports research.
Updated content: Eligible employment relationships are defined as:

A minimum of 0.2 FTE for at least 12 months continuous employment (as defined by Section 210 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA 1996) or the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996) by the HEI making the submission. Continuous employment may be demonstrated by a sequence of consecutive contracts AND

The role descriptor includes an explicit expectation of research activity (in line with the REF definition of research) within the role. ‘Research activity’ is not restricted by profession and an eligible employment relationship may be with any staff member who undertakes, enables or supports research.

Paragraph number: 6.3.1.
Updated on: 6 August 2025
Original content: Eligible employment relationships are defined as:

A minimum of 0.2 FTE for at least 12 months continuous employment (as defined by Section 210 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA 1996) or the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996) by the HEI making the submission. Continuous employment may be demonstrated by a sequence of consecutive contracts AND

The role descriptor includes an explicit expectation of research activity (as distinct from scholarship) within the role.
Updated content: Eligible employment relationships are defined as:

A minimum of 0.2 FTE for at least 12 months continuous employment (as defined by Section 210 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA 1996) or the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996) by the HEI making the submission. Continuous employment may be demonstrated by a sequence of consecutive contracts AND

The role descriptor includes an explicit expectation of research activity (as distinct from scholarship) within the role. ‘Research activity’ is not restricted by profession and an eligible employment relationship may be with any staff member who undertakes, enables or supports research.

Paragraph number: 6.4.3.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Before the submitted output was first made publicly available, when the research resulting in the output was carried out.

For most outputs this will be January 2021 to December 2028

This period may be extended prior to January 2021 for long-form and other diverse outputs. This will be finalised by the panels during the criteria setting phase

Such cases must be evidenced through a limited set of indicators (see paragraph 6.6.2.)
Updated content: Before the submitted output was first made publicly available, when the research resulting in the output was carried out.

For most outputs this time-limited period will have occurred between January 2021 to December 2028

This time-limited period may be extended prior to January 2021 providing that the output was published during the REF publication period

The time-limited period will be longer for long-form or extended process outputs

Paragraph number: 6.5.1.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: The time limited period prior to the date of the output first being made publicly available, during which research resulting in the output was carried out, will be defined by panels during the criteria setting period and updated here. It is anticipated that it will be two years for the majority of outputs and up to five years for long-form and other diverse outputs.
Updated content: Main Panels have defined the time-limited period prior to the date of the output first being made publicly available, during which research resulting in the output was carried out as:

two years for the majority of outputs

five years for long-form and extended process outputs

Paragraph number: 6.6.1.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: The main panels will define the indicators that will be requested to evidence a substantive link where it occurs before the submitted output was first made publicly available, and they will be updated here.
Updated content: No further indicators will be required to evidence substantive link.

Paragraph number: 6.6.2. – deleted
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Likely indicators include, but are not limited to:

evidence of internal research support (for example, funding for research materials, technical or research support, conference attendance)

evidence of work in progress presentations (internally and externally)

evidence of an external grant to support a relevant program of research
Updated content: n/a

Paragraph number: 6.8.1.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: In exceptional, clearly justified and pre-cleared cases, outputs sole-authored by staff on teaching-only or other non-research contracts may be submitted, where:

the institution has provided allocated time and funding to support that specific research activity
Updated content: In exceptional, clearly justified and pre-cleared cases, outputs sole-authored by staff on teaching-only, honorary emeritus contracts, or other non-research contracts may be submitted, where:

the institution has provided allocated time and funding to support that specific research activity

Paragraph number: 6.9.1.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Outputs authored by individuals while on an excluded contract may be eligible for submission if the individual subsequently moved to an eligible contract (that is, Teaching and Research or Research only) during the REF period, subject to the following conditions:

the contracts were both held at the same institution and meet the definition of continuous employment (as defined by Section 210 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA 1996) or the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996)

all other eligibility criteria for an eligible employment relationship are met within the REF period (1 January 2021 to 31 December 2028)
Updated content: Outputs authored by individuals while on an excluded contract may be eligible for submission if the individual subsequently moved to a Teaching and Research or Research only contract during the REF period, subject to the following conditions:

the contracts were both held at the same institution and meet the definition of continuous employment (as defined by Section 210 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA 1996) or the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996)

all other eligibility criteria for an eligible employment relationship are met within the REF period (1 January 2021 to 31 December 2028)

Paragraph number: 6.10.3.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Additional guidance will be published as part of the Panel Criteria and Working Methods on the outputs that meet the definition of long-form and/or long-process and on the time-limited period that will apply. The guidance will be summarised here. This will be informed by further engagement with sector organisations and representatives.
Updated content: Where a researcher is employed on a contract that constitutes an eligible employment relationship at an institution at the point a REF submission is made, long-form and/or extended process outputs published before this contract commenced will be eligible for submission if:

they were first made publicly available during the REF period (January 2021 to December 2028) and

the staff member’s eligible employment relationship with the submitting institution commenced within 5 years of the output first being made publicly available

Paragraph number: 6.10.4 to 6.10.10
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: n/a
Updated content: New paragraphs added

7. Representative submissions

Paragraph number: 7.0.2.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Measures have been put in place to mitigate concerns that full decoupling could lead to the underrepresentation of research areas and research groups.
Updated content: To mitigate concerns that full decoupling may lead to the under representation of research areas and research groups, all Unit (UoA) submissions are required to represent the subject range and diversity of research activities undertaken during the REF 2029 cycle, as described in the outline of research activity within the submitting unit, and to discuss this within the statement of representation.

Paragraph number: 7.0.3.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Submissions should be representative of the research undertaken by the submitting unit during the REF period. They should reflect the range of research activity in the UoA.
Updated content: Each Unit (UoA) will provide an overview of research activity and the academic framing of the submitting unit, including any discrete subject structures, research groups and/or areas of specialised academic endeavour.

Paragraph number: 7.0.4.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: A submitting unit comprises the collection of subject structures, research groups and research activity in an HEI, submitting to a UoA.
Updated content: Where the submitted outputs and associated reserve list do not fully demonstrate the diversity of the research activity undertaken within the Unit, this should also be explained in the statement of representation.

Paragraph number: 7.0.5.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Further detail will be provided on the definition of a submitting unit in the context of the People, Culture and Environment assessment element.
Updated content: HEIs will describe their procedures for achieving a representative submission in their CoP.

Paragraph number: 7.0.6.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: The representativeness of submissions will be assessed via the CKU Disciplinary Level Evidence Statements (DLS) and HEIs will describe their procedures for achieving a representative submission in their CoP.
Updated content: The important issues of demographics, roles and career stages will be addressed as part of the wider SPRE statements.

Paragraph number: 7.0.7. – deleted
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Panels will assess the extent that assessment criteria are met and will apply a grade for each submission, with the representativeness of submissions benchmarked within UoAs and moderated between UoAs, to ensure consistency, while considering disciplinary difference.
Updated content: n/a

Paragraph number: 7.0.8. – deleted
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: The important issues of research diversity, demographics and career stages will be assessed as part of the wider disciplinary level evidence statements (DLS).
Updated content: n/a

Paragraph number: 7.0.9. – deleted
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: A representative submission will:

provide a description of the comprehensive scope of the research activity in the submitting unit. This should be consistent with the research strategies and structures of the submitting unit and the unit’s research strategies

contain outputs that represent the range of research activity in a submitting unit over the assessment period and provide a clear explanation for the omission of any areas of research activity not represented and how this aligns with the research strategy outlined in the DLS
Updated content: n/a

Paragraph number: 7.0.10. – deleted
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Full guidance on panel working methods and criteria (for example, scoring convention and methods) and on REF 2029 disciplinary level evidence statements (for example, weighting of representativeness) will be developed and published after working with the REF panels.
Updated content: n/a

Paragraph number: 7.1.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Representation of research activity
Updated content: Definition of a submitting unit

Paragraph number: 7.1.1.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Representation of research activity will be assessed as part of the CKU element of the DLS and will be assessed on the extent that:

submitted outputs are reflective of the research strategies and structures of the submitting unit over the REF period, including contributions to large-scale research programs, networks, or national/global initiatives

submitted outputs reflect the diversity of subject areas that are pursued within the UoA

submitted outputs reflect the diversity of research practices and outputs produced within the disciplinary area, including the extent to which different and diverse types of research are included in the submission
Updated content: A submitting Unit comprises the collection of subject structures, research groups and research activity in an HEI, that collectively contribute to all or part of the total institutional submission to a UoA.

Paragraph number: 7.2.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Code of Practice (CoP)
Updated content: Maximum occurrence of a single substantive link

Paragraph number: 7.2.1.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: HEIs are required to set out in their Code of Practice (CoP) their process for ensuring that their output submissions are representative of the research being undertaken within UoAs and their research strategies. This will ensure that processes are transparent, robust, and equitable.
Updated content: A substantive link in the context of REF 2029 refers to an eligible employment relationship between an individual author (or equivalent) and the Institution submitting the output.

Paragraph number: 7.2.2.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: The representativeness of submissions will be assessed as part of the REF 2029 disciplinary level evidence statements. As such, the CoP will describe a HEI’s approach to achieving representativeness in submissions, as set out in their disciplinary level evidence statements.
Updated content: HEIs will identify the eligible employment relationship between an individual author (or equivalent) and the Institution through the inclusion of a HESA Staff Identifier for each output submitted.

Paragraph number: 7.2.3.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: HEIs will be required to publish analysis of the extent of the success of their approach in their CoP, this will reflect the evidence submitted in the REF 2029 DLS
Updated content: The expectation is that no more than 5 outputs are associated with a single substantive link within a submission at UoA level.

Paragraph number: 7.2.4. – new paragraph added
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: n/a
Updated content: This is intended to support HEIs and to ensure that submissions are representative of the full range of research within the submitting unit and are not unfairly disproportionate.

Paragraph number: 7.2.5. – new paragraph added
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: n/a
Updated content: Where this number is exceeded, the submitting unit should explain the rationale within the statement of representation.

Paragraph number: 7.3.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Disciplinary level evidence statements (DLS)
Updated content: Assessment

Paragraph number: 7.3.1.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: The representativeness of an institution’s output submission will be assessed at the disciplinary level, via REF 2029 disciplinary level evidence statements (DLS).
Updated content: The statement of representation will not be directly scored in the assessment. Rather, the statement and an analysis of the occurrences of individual substantive links and their distribution across disciplines, generated from submission data, will be used as a point of reference in the assessment of the wider unit-level statement within SPRE, providing important contextual information and evidence of the implementation of strategy.

Paragraph number: 7.3.2.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: The DLS contribute to the assessment score for each assessment element. Guidance on the full content of the DLS, weighting and the approach to assessment will be finalised with REF panels.
Updated content: The statement of representation will be read by panels alongside the context and strategy elements of SPRE submissions and used to support judgement on the extent that the claims made are supported by the representative submission. This will be used by panels as part of their assessment of the SPRE element of submissions.

Paragraph number: 7.3.3.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Representation of research activity will be assessed at UoA level as part of the unit’s overall CKU assessment score.
Updated content: Full guidance on panel working methods and criteria will be developed and published after working with the REF panels.

Paragraph number: 7.3.4. – deleted
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: The full guidance for disciplinary level evidence statements will be published at a later date.
Updated content: n/a

Paragraph number: 7.4. – new sub-section added
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: n/a
Updated content: Demonstration of representation

Paragraph number: 7.4.1. to 7.4.6. – new paragraphs added
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: n/a
Updated content: See the guidance

Paragraph number: 7.5. – new sub-section added
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: n/a
Updated content: Code of Practice (CoP)

Paragraph number: 7.5.1. – new paragraph added
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: n/a
Updated content: HEIs are required to set out in their Code of Practice (CoP) their process for ensuring that their output submissions are representative of the research being undertaken within UoAs and their research strategies. This will ensure that processes are transparent, robust, and equitable.

9. Required output data

Paragraph number: 9.5.2. – new paragraph
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: n/a
Updated content: The HESA staff identifier will be used to support the audit of substantive links and will inform analysis provided to panels on the distribution of outputs across substantive links and disciplines.

10. Additional output data

Paragraph number: 10.12.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Request to ‘multiple-weight’ the output
Updated content: Request to ‘double-weight’ the output

Paragraph number: 10.12.1.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: For outputs of extended scale and scope, the submitting institution may request that the sub-panel weights the output as more than one output, (see sub-section 19). Associated output/s may be submitted on the reserve list.
Updated content: For outputs of extended scale and scope, the submitting institution may request that the sub-panel double-weights the output, and an associate output may be submitted to the reserve list (see sub-section 19).

Paragraph number: 10.15. – new heading
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: n/a
Updated content: Request to use the long-form and/or extended process exception

Paragraph number: 10.15.1. – new paragraph
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: n/a
Updated content: For outputs that meet the criteria for the long-form and/or extended process exception, this flag should be used, and a 100-word justification provided.

18. Double-weighting of outputs

Paragraph number: 18.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Multiple-weighting of outputs
Updated content: Double-weighting of outputs

Paragraph number: 18.0.1.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Institutions may request that outputs of extended scale and scope be multiple-weighted (count as multiple outputs) in the assessment.
Updated content: Institutions may request that outputs of extended scale and scope be double-weighted (count as two outputs) in the assessment.

Paragraph number: 18.0.2.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: The panels will provide more information in the Panel criteria about outputs that may merit multiple-weighting in their discipline areas.
Updated content: The panels will provide more information in the Panel criteria about outputs that may merit double-weighting in their disciplinary areas.

Paragraph number: 18.0.3.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Further work will be done to explore the potential use of triple- and quadruple-weighting in REF 2029 and this section will be updated at a later date.
Updated content: The panels have concluded that triple- and quadruple-weighting will not be introduced in REF 2029.

Paragraph number: 18.1.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Process for requesting multiple-weighting of outputs
Updated content: Process for requesting double-weighting of outputs

Paragraph number: 18.1.1.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Institutions’ requests for multiple-weighting must be accompanied by a statement of up to 100 words explaining how the scale and scope of the output satisfies these criteria.
Updated content: Institutions’ requests for double-weighting must be accompanied by a statement of up to 100 words explaining how the scale and scope of the output satisfies these criteria.

Paragraph number: 18.1.2.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Where requesting an output to be multiple-weighted, the submitting institution must reduce the number of outputs listed in the submission by the appropriate number of outputs (unless including ‘reserve’ output/s, as described below).
Updated content: Where requesting an output to be double-weighted, the submitting institution must reduce the number of outputs listed in the submission by one output (unless including a ‘reserve’ output, as described below).

Paragraph number: 18.1.3.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: The sub-panels will decide whether to multiple-weight each output that has been so requested, according to the published criteria. This decision will be separate to the panel’s judgement about the quality of that output.
Updated content: The sub-panels will decide whether to double-weight each output that has been so requested, according to the published criteria. This decision will be separate to the panel’s judgement about the quality of that output.

Paragraph number: 18.1.4.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Where the panel decides to multiple-weight an output, it will count as more than one output in the submission. Where the panel does not accept the case for multiple-weighting, it will count the submitted output as a single output, and grade the ‘missing’ output/s as unclassified (unless a ‘reserve’ output/s is included).
Updated content: Where the panel decides to double-weight an output, it will count as two outputs in the submission. Where the panel does not accept the case for double-weighting, it will count the submitted output as a single output, and grade the ‘missing’ output as unclassified (unless a ‘reserve’ output is available).

Paragraph number: 18.2.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Reserve output/s
Updated content: Reserve outputs

Paragraph number: 18.2.1.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Institutions may include a ‘reserve’ output/s with each output requested for multiple-weighting.
Updated content: Institutions may include a list of ‘reserve’ outputs in priority order.

Paragraph number: 18.2.2.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: A reserve output/s will be associated with the specific output for which multiple-weighting has been requested. If the request is declined, the panel will assess the associated reserve output/s.
Updated content: Reserve outputs will not be associated with a specific output. In circumstances where a reserve output is required, such as where a request for double-weighting is declined, the panel will assess the reserve item at the top of the reserve list.

Paragraph number: 18.2.3.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: A reserve output/s will only be assessed in the event that the panel does not accept the request for multiple-weighting.
Updated content: A reserve output will only be assessed if the panel does not accept a request for double-weighting.

19. Reserve list

Paragraph number: 19.0.2.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: In all circumstances a reserve output/s will be associated with a specific output within the submission.
Updated content: Reserve outputs will be ranked in order of submission, and will be selected in order, as required. They will not be associated with a specific output within the submission.

Paragraph number: 19.1.2.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: The associated outputs from the reserve lists in this situation would only become eligible if the output was not made publicly available before 31 December 2028.
Updated content: An output from the reserve list would only become eligible if the output was not made publicly available before 31 December 2028.

Paragraph number: 19.2.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Multiple-weighted outputs
Updated content: Double-weighted outputs

Paragraph number: 19.2.1.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Institutions may request that outputs of extended scale and scope be multiple-weighted (count as multiple outputs) in the assessment.
Updated content: Institutions may request that outputs of extended scale and scope be double-weighted (count as two outputs) in the assessment.

Paragraph number: 19.2.2.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: The associated output/s from the reserve list in this situation would only become eligible if the request for multiple weighting is declined.
Updated content: An output from the reserve list in this situation would only become eligible if a request for double-weighting is declined.

Paragraph number: 19.2.3.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: A reserve output/s will only be assessed in the event that the panel does not accept the request for multiple-weighting.
Updated content: A reserve output will only be assessed in the event that the panel does not accept the request for double-weighting.

Paragraph number: 19.2.4. – deleted
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: In situations where multiple reserve outputs are submitted they must be provided in priority order, should fewer than the total number of reserve outputs need to be assessed (for example, if a multiple weight of three is requested but only double weighting is approved by the panels).
Updated content: n/a

25. Audit

Paragraph number: 25.3.2.
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: Ineligible outputs included: if the audit finds that ineligible outputs were included in the submission, they will be removed from the unit’s submission and an ineligible score of zero will be assigned for each missing output.
Updated content: REF 2029 provides high levels of flexibility, allowing institutions to submit a single output to multiple units where the research aligns with the definitions of multiple UoAs. It is expected that outputs will only be submitted to units where there is genuine alignment with the UoA descriptors. This is not intended to prevent the use of cross referral in circumstances where submission to the most appropriate UoA requires input from another disciplinary area.

Paragraph number: 25.3.3. – new paragraph added
Updated on: 10 December 2025
Original content: N/A
Updated content: Ineligible outputs included: if the audit finds that ineligible outputs were included in the submission, they will be removed from the unit’s submission and an ineligible score of zero will be assigned for each missing output.