Research Excellence Framework (REF)
The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is a periodic peer assessment of the quality of research in UK Higher Education Institutions across all disciplines.
This assessment is designed:
- To inform the allocation of block-grant research funding to HEIs based on research quality
- To provide accountability for public investment in research and produce evidence of the benefits of this investment
- To provide insights into the health of research in HEIs in the UK
The next Research Excellence Framework, , will assess the period from 2021 to 2028 with outcomes published in 2029. The ¹û¶³´«Ã½ is currently preparing its submission for REF2029.
In the last assessment, REF2021, the ¹û¶³´«Ã½ built on its achievements in REF2014 (which showed the ¹û¶³´«Ã½ to be most improved in the UK on the measure of research power). The ¹û¶³´«Ã½ submitted 162 staff to 12 Units of Assessment, a 46% increase on staff submitted to REF2014. The outcomes also showed an overall increase in the quality of our research with a 12% increase in our Grade Point Average and an increase in the proportion of world-leading and internationally excellent research from 33% to 42%.
There were particular successes in Allied Health, Nursing and Midwifery where almost a quarter of submitted outputs were deemed world-leading; in Psychology where nearly three quarters of outputs were identified as world-leading or internationally excellent; and in History where over 80% of the submission was recognised as world leading or internationally excellent. The results also highlighted outstanding impacts in Art and Design and very significant impacts, for example, in community-based support for people living with dementia and for the development of measures to enhance cyber security for businesses.
For more details, see our full .
It was a requirement that each institution submitting to REF2021 developed a Code of Practice in consultation with academic. This Code sets out the institutional approach to ensuring equality of opportunity in REF 2021 decision-making processes.
Our Code of Practice for Research Excellence Framework 2021 was approved by Research England.