Higher Education Quality-related Research (QR) funding
QR funding is used to provide strategic institutional funding to Northern Ireland Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to support research activities . The formula for QR funding is primarily derived from the UK national research assessment exercise known as the Research Excellence Framework (REF).
Higher Education Quality-related Research (QR) funding
QR funding is the research element of the annual block grant issued to NI HEIs. It is used to support research infrastructure for example staff salaries, premises, libraries, and to enable HEIs to compete effectively for externally provided research funding (UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Research Councils, Charities, Industry etc). QR funding is non-directive and can be distributed by the recipient HEI according to its own strategic research priorities.
Total QR funding (£) in Northern Ireland, 2018/19 to 2024/25
| Academic Year | Queens University Belfast | Ulster University | Stranmillis University College | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24/25 | 34,396,345 | 15,581,547 | 32,879 | 50,010,771 |
| 23/24 | 40,564,854 | 18,725,537 | 28,386 | 59,318,777 |
| 22/23 | 31,818,289 | 14,782,251 | 28,239 | 46,628,779 |
| 21/22 | 32,387,910 | 14,182,560 | 58,301 | 46,628,771 |
| 20/21 | 32,359,482 | 14,209,329 | 59,961 | 46,628,772 |
| 19/20 | 32,522,581 | 14,044,548 | 61,643 | 46,583,772 |
| 18/19 | 32,608,121 | 13,958,360 | 62,288 | 46,628,769 |
*Academic Years (A/Y) run from August to July
24/25 Total includes £3,332,000 of non-recurrent QR
23/24 Total includes £12,690,000 of non-recurrent QR
QR funding formula
Consists of four elements:
- Mainstream
- Premium
- Research Degree Programme Supervision
- Charities support
Mainstream
Provided in support of Units of Assessment (UoAs) according to the volume and quality of research that has been assessed as meeting or exceeding the 3* quality level in REF 2021 and weighted by the relative cost of research in each UOA. The volume measure for research is the FTE number of research-active academic staff submitted to REF 2021.
Table 1 - Mainstream funding weightings
REF 2021 Quality rating | Mainstream funding weighting |
|---|---|
4* (Quality that is world-leading) | 4 |
3* (Quality that is internationally excellent) | 1 |
2* (Quality that is recognised internationally) | 0 |
1* (Quality that is recognised nationally) | 0 |
Unclassified (Quality that falls below the standard of nationally recognised work or is ineligible) | 0 |
Table 2 - UoA/ subject cost weightings
Cost band | Cost weighting |
|---|---|
A (High cost laboratory and clinical subjects) | 1.6 |
B (Intermediate cost subjects) | 1.3 |
P (UoA 4 - Psychology, Psychiatry & Neuroscience) | 1.42 |
C (Others) | 1.0 |
Premium
Provided as fixed funding allocations (2:1 ratio) to STEM related UoAs (£318,300) and UoAs deemed to be in areas of economic relevance (£159,000). The application of the flat rate premium applies across the full breadth of the research quality.
Research Degree Programme (RDP) Supervision
Provided to HEIs as a standard contribution to the costs of supervising Home research students. It is distributed on the basis of quality of UOA submission and by the number of eligible cost‑weighted home full-time Post graduate Researchers (PGRs)
Table 3 - RDP funding weightings
REF 2021 Quality rating | RDP Funding weighting |
|---|---|
4* (Quality that is world-leading) | 1 |
3* (Quality that is internationally excellent) | 1 |
2* (Quality that is recognised internationally) | 1 |
1* (Quality that is recognised nationally) | 0 |
Unclassified (Quality that falls below the standard of nationally recognised work or is ineligible) | 0 |
Charities support
Provided to help meet the full economic cost (FEC) of externally secured charities research income. It is distributed based on the 4 year average of charity research income from most recent HESA Finance record