At the Â鶹AV, we are proud of our research and knowledge exchange activity, which enriches our teaching, drives important partnerships and collaborations, and produces new knowledge and positive societal impact.
What is the REF?
The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the UK's national exercise for assessing the quality and impact of research, as well the vitality and sustainability of research environments in UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). 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.
Research England manages the REF on behalf of all four UK higher education funding bodies.
What is the purpose of the REF?
The REF results inform the allocation of institutional research funding, provide accountability for public investment in research and offer insight into the health and performance of UK research.
For the purposes of the REF, research is defined as a process of investigation leading to new insights, effectively shared.
Why is the REF significant for universities?
The REF outcomes are used to inform the allocation of around £2 billion per year of public funding for universities’ research.
Beyond the funding, the REF also has significant reputational implications: success in the REF can be used in student and staff recruitment, to foster collaborations and to forge partnerships and REF outcomes also feed into league tables.
When does the REF take place?
Replacing the previous Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), the first REF took place in 2014, followed by another in 2021. The next exercise will consider work produced between January 2021 and December 2028, with results planned for 2029.