Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029
In December 2023 Research England released details of the upcoming research evaluation exercise. The details include an announcement to extend the timing for the next REF exercise to 2029.
In September 2025, Research England announced a pause in its preparations for REF2029 to review the terms and principles of the current assessment exercise.
Through extensive engagement with the sector, the changes following this three-month pause were announced by Research England in December 2025. The headline changes included:
‘Strategy, People and Research Environment’ to build upon the REF2021 Environment component and draw on findings from the ‘People, Culture and Environment’ Pilot.
Consistency with Initial Decisions plus simplifications, retaining elements of REF2021 thus reducing the burden for the sector.
Research Excellence Framework 2029 Code of Practice
The University’s REF2029 Code of Practice sets out the principles, processes and governance arrangements that will guide the identification and selection of staff and outputs for submission to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029. Publishing the University’s REF 2029 Code of Practice demonstrates our commitment to a fair, transparent and inclusive approach to research assessment. Developed through extensive consultation with colleagues across the University, the Code reflects our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring that decisions are evidence-based, consistent and applied equitably.
The Code of Practice has been reviewed and approved by Research England, providing assurance that our procedures meet the expectations and requirements of the national REF exercise. By making the Code publicly available, we aim to provide transparency to our staff, partners and wider stakeholders, while demonstrating our commitment to recognising and celebrating the breadth, quality and impact of research undertaken across the University.
The final version of the REF 2029 Code of Practice, approved by Research England and formally endorsed by the University Academic Board on 29th September 2026 following minor amendments, is available to view here.
KEY CHANGES TO REF2029
The three domains previously used in REF2014 and REF2021 have been retitled and have had their content and weightings adjusted to reflect their broader remits.
Contribution to knowledge and understanding (55% weighting). This domain replaces the Outputs element. It will primarily assess research outputs and will also include evidence of wider contributions to the development of a discipline.
Strategy, People and Research Environment (SPRE) (20% weighting). This domain replaces the environment element, formerly "People, Culture & Environment", and will be expanded to assess both institutional and disciplinary level research culture.
Engagement and impact (25% weighting). This domain replaces the impact element, to consider both engagement and impact through impact case studies and an accompanying statement at disciplinary level.
The below table outlines the key decisions taken by the funding bodies for REF2029. Please note, some of this detail is now subject to change as we await further guidance on the newly proposed REF 2029 exercise:
| Unit of Assessment |
REF 2029 will retain the REF 2021 Unit of Assessment structure and will include advisory panels on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and Interdisciplinary research. New assessment and element weightings: Contribution to Knowledge and Understanding (55%), Engagement and Impact (25%), Strategy, People and Research Environment (SPRE) (20%). |
|---|---|
| Staffing |
Institutions will not submit staff to REF 2029. Staff data will be gathered directly from HESA to determine the volume. REF 2021 staff eligibility criteria will be used to identify staff posts that contribute to the volume measure. |
| Outputs |
REF 2029 will fully break the link between individual staff members and unit submissions. Institutions may submit outputs produced by any staff member where there is a demonstrable and substantive link to the submitting institution within the REF assessment period. There will be no minimum or maximum output requirements for individual staff members. However, units will be required to explain how their submitted output pool is representative of the research undertaken within the disciplinary area. There will be no process to account for individual equality-related circumstances. REF 2029 will include consideration of the impact of equality-related circumstances within an overall process for determining potential reductions in output requirements at submission level. The process will not be based on the aggregation of individual equality-related circumstances. Institutions may submit outputs produced by any staff member where there is a demonstrable and substantive link to the submitting institution within the REF assessment period. |
| Open access |
The REF2021 Open Access Policy applies for now. No longform open access mandate for 2029. |
| Strategy, People and Research Environment |
Based on the REF findings of the People, Culture & Environment (PCE) pilot exercise, this element is now titled 'Strategy, People & Research Environment (SPRE). There will be focus on research culture, including institutional and discipline level statements. |
| Contribution to knowledge and understanding | The assessment of outputs will be expanded to include the assessment of a unit’s contribution to knowledge and understanding and will include assessment of outputs and a structured explanatory statement. |