The outcomes from this exercise informs the distribution of Quality Related (QR) funding.

The results from the REF also feed into a range of Higher Education league tables and so can influence prospective staff and students when choosing where to study or work. More information can be found on the Research England website.

Expert panels of academics and research users undertake assessment of each UoA. Universities strategically choose which UoAs to submit to and which staff are placed in each discipline. Queen’s intends to make 25 submissions to REF 2021.

Category A eligible staff are defined as academic staff with a contract of employment of 0.2 FTE or greater, on the payroll of the submitting institution on the census date, whose primary employment function is to undertake either ‘research only’ or ‘teaching and research’. Staff should have a substantive research connection with the submitting unit. Staff on ‘research only’ contracts should meet the definition of an independent researcher (see section 3 of the Code of Practice).

Outputs –  In REF 2021 each unit will require a total number of outputs calculated by ‘2.5 x FTE’ on 31 July 2020. Each staff member will be requried to submit a minimum of one output and UoAs can submit up to a maximum of five per individual .

Impact - Impact case studies are now worth 25% of the REF assessment – a significant increase on 16% in REF 2014. This means that the value of an individual case study has increased significantly from the previous exercise. Each UoA requires a minimum of two case studies for the first 20 FTE and an extra case study for every further 15 FTE.

Environment - There are a number of changes planned to the environment section of REF. These will include the introduction of a more structured template which will require each unit to report on specific sections such as links to institutional strategy, interdisciplinary research, equality and diversity, impact, collaboration beyond HE, and open research. Further metrics will also be introduced although these are also TBC by Research England.

Internal REF Planning Guidance

• Latest News
• Guidance documents - REF Planning Update (February to 31 July 2020), 
• Code of Practice
• FAQs

Research England REF Guidance

• Guidance on submissions
• Panel Critieria and Working Methods
• Research England FAQs