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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REF 2029 Open Access Policy and Consultation and Engagement summary published
We have published the full Open Access Policy for REF 2029 as well as a summary of the REF 2029 open access consultation which helped to inform it. As we communicated in August, for REF 2029 there will continue to be an open access requirement for journal articles and conference proceedings. There is no open…
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Panellists confirmed for REF People, Culture and Environment pilot
Today the REF team have announced the membership of the REF People, Culture and Environment (PCE) pilot panels. Full panel membership can be found here and a blog updating on the pilot was published yesterday. REF 2029 will deliver an expanded definition of research excellence, recognising the wide range of research, roles, and people that…
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New blog: Culture and Environment in REF 2029 – time to test it out
Duncan Shermer, Head of REF Evaluation and Development, has published an update on the PCE pilot in the HEPI blog today.
