Published: 11 November 2026
We strive to make our website easy to use and navigate. If you have any feedback on the website design, the new format of the REF guidance, or ideas on how to improve navigation, please email us. For other queries please see the Contact page for details of how to get in touch.
Purpose
The Panel criteria sets out the assessment criteria and working methods of the main panels, sub-panels and the IL SPRE Panel for the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029.
The Panel criteria, together with the REF 2029 Guidance on Submissions, provides a description of the information required in submissions to the REF, and how the REF panels will assess submissions.
Key points
The REF is a process of expert review. Expert sub-panels for each of the 34 Units of Assessment (UoAs) will carry out the assessment, working under the leadership and guidance of four main panels and with expert support from two advisory panels, the People and Diversity Advisory Panel (PDAP) and the Research Diversity Advisory Panel (RDAP). The Institutional-Level Strategy, People and Research Environment Panel (IL SPRE Panel) will carry out the assessment of institution-level statements for Strategy, People and Research Environment (SPRE).
UK higher education institutions (HEIs) will be invited to make submissions from autumn 2027. The REF panels will assess submissions from early 2029, and results will be published in December 2029. The results will inform the allocation of research funding by the UK higher education (HE) funding bodies, from academic year 2030 to 2031. The funding bodies are:
- Research England
- Scottish Funding Council
- Medr
- Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland
The Panel criteria sets out a combined statement of criteria and working methods across the four main panels and the IL SPRE Panel. Supplementary criteria are set out for each main panel where applicable. The main panels’ supplementary criteria are intended to be read alongside the combined criteria, and do not replace them. Further details on the working methods of the IL SPRE Panel will be published once the full panel has been recruited.
Action required
The Panel criteria is for information and to guide institutions in preparing and collecting data for inclusion in REF submissions. No action is required by HEIs at this stage.
Further information
For further information about the REF, see www.ref.ac.uk.
Staff at UK HEIs should direct any queries to their institutional REF contact. Contact details for each institution are listed under Contact on the REF website.
Other enquiries should be addressed to info@ref.ac.uk.