Research excellence framework
Research assessment in the UK is achieved by means of the research excellence framework (REF) exercise. It is managed by the REF team based at Research England and overseen by a Steering Group comprised of representatives of the four higher education funding bodies, including the Department for the Economy. Further information is available on the REF website.
The purposes of the REF are to:
- provide accountability for public investment in research and produce evidence of the benefits of this investment
- provide benchmarking information and establish reputational yardsticks, for use within the HE sector and for public information
- inform the selective allocation of funding for research.
News item
Publications
- Equality briefing for Research Excellence Framework panels
- Guidance to panels
- Draft guidance on codes of practice
- Consultation on the panel criteria and working methods
- Draft guidance on submissions
Guidance
(Note: this page includes the RAND impact indicators report, environment indicators advice, the fellowships list, and the information requirements for outputs.)
Covid-19
information can be found on contingency measures developed in response to the increasing effects of COVID-19 on instituitions in preparing submissions to REF 2021:
Future Research Assessment Programme (FRAP)
The four UK higher education funding bodies are launching the Future Research Assessment Programme, aimed at exploring possible approaches to the assessment of UK higher education research performance. The programme seeks to understand what a healthy, thriving research system looks like and how an assessment model can best form its foundation. It will investigate possible different approaches to the evaluation of UK higher education research performance, looking to identify those that can encourage and strengthen the emphasis on delivering excellent research and impact, and support a positive research culture, while simplifying and reducing the administrative burden on the HE sector.