Units of assessment

Submissions to the REF are made in 34 units of assessment, (UoA). In REF 2029 we are retaining the REF 2021 UoA structure with four main panels and 34 sub-panels, one for each UoA, which are listed below.

  • Main Panel A: Medicine, Health and Life Sciences 
  • Main Panel B: Physical Sciences, Engineering and Mathematics 
  • Main Panel C: Social Sciences 
  • Main Panel D: Arts and Humanities 

Main Panel A – Medicine, Health and Life Sciences

  1. Clinical Medicine
  2. Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care
  3. Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy
  4. Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience
  5. Biological Sciences
  6. Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Sciences

Main Panel B – Physical Sciences, Engineering and Mathematics

  1. Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences
  2. Chemistry
  3. Physics
  4. Mathematical Sciences
  5. Computer Science and Informatics
  6. Engineering

Main Panel C – Social Sciences

  1. Architecture, Built Environment and Planning
  2. Geography and Environmental Studies
  3. Archaeology
  4. Economics and Econometrics
  5. Business and Management Studies
  6. Law
  7. Politics and International Studies
  8. Social Work and Social Policy
  9. Sociology
  10. Anthropology and Development Studies
  11. Education
  12. Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism

Main Panel D – Arts and Humanities

  1. Area Studies
  2. Modern Languages and Linguistics
  3. English Language and Literature
  4. History
  5. Classics
  6. Philosophy
  7. Theology and Religious Studies
  8. Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
  9. Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies
  10. Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management