REF 2014

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the new system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education. It replaces the previous Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). We will next take part during 2014.

Research Assessment is undertaken approximately every five to seven years on behalf of HEFCE, SFC, HEFCW and DELNI; the four UK higher education funding councils.

Submissions from each subject area (or unit of assessment) are given a rank by a subject specialist peer review panel. These profiles are used to inform the allocation of quality weighted research funding each higher education institution receives from their national funding council.