REF 2029: update on preparations

Key messages:  

• REF 2029 is significantly different from previous exercises
• Preparations for REF 2029 are well underway
• A consultation on the University’s REF 2029 Code of Practice will launch next month

What is the REF?

The Research Excellence Framework, commonly known as the REF, is the UK’s system for assessing the quality of research taking place in UK higher education institutions.

The assessment takes place roughly every seven years, and the outcomes are used to inform the annual allocation of around £2 billion of public funding for research. The collegiate University currently receives about £88 million in mainstream quality-related (QR) funding annually as a result of our performance in REF 2021.

The submission date for the next assessment, REF 2029, will be in the autumn of 2028. The REF is overseen by four UK research funding bodies, which for us is Research England (part of UKRI). The funders use REF as a way to shape the UK research ecosystem – for example through the introduction of an open access publication mandate in REF 2021.

How is REF 2029 different from the last exercise?

Shift towards institutional assessment

The REF funding bodies are seeking to shift the focus of assessment away from individuals, and towards assessment at institutional and subject level (in REF terms, “Unit of Assessment” or UOA). They have also put new emphasis on our support of research culture.

New emphasis on research culture

The majority of the assessment will still be based on the outputs of research (publications, etc) and impact case studies, but there will be new narrative statements, including one for People, Culture and Environment.

Changes in staff submission and output requirements

Staff will no longer be “submitted” to the REF and there will not be a minimum number of outputs required per staff member, but there will still be a staff “volume” calculation that determines how many outputs and how much other material each UOA has to submit. The guidance for the exercise is still being developed and we keep the Research Support website up to date as guidance is received.

Our preparations

Preparation for the REF is a substantial undertaking involving many University members – with many staff taking on additional REF duties as the momentum builds and we approach the submission date. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved for their work so far, and for the efforts to come!

Having undertaken a thorough review of how our preparations for REF 2021 could be approved, and absorbing the new elements of REF 2029, some features of our approach are:

Early preparations: Academic Leads for all of our UOA submissions have been appointed, and I have met twice with this cohort of colleagues as part of a regular cycle of dialogue. REF Project Board, which includes representatives from the Divisions and Conference of Colleges, is meeting regularly and overseeing progress.

Greater use of data-driven processes: REF-related processes are being streamlined through the use of existing University data. We hope that this will reduce time commitment for colleagues and enable greater clarity around decisions such as the method used to determine our REF staff volume.

A shared understanding of research excellence: All UOAs are undertaking calibration exercises to ensure that outputs are being consistently scored against the same standards, leading to valuable discussions between academic colleagues on the characteristics of excellent research in each subject area.

We have also been actively engaging externally in consultations on the guidance itself, including participating in the People, Culture and Environment assessment pilot, and the Open Access policy consultation. Colleagues can get more information on the new REF 2029 OA policy, which comes into effect from 1 January 2026, at the Open Access Oxford website.

Upcoming consultation

We are developing a Code of Practice (CoP) that describes in detail how we will conduct processes around the identification of volume-contributing contracts and the selection of outputs. Once agreed, the CoP will be submitted to the REF funding bodies for their approval.

The development of the CoP is an opportunity to engage with staff about the REF, and next month we will launch a University-wide CoP consultation. There will be opportunities to find out more about REF, ask questions and to provide feedback. More information will be provided on the Research Support website in due course. 

To register your interest in being informed about the consultation events, please complete this form.

To find out more about how the University is preparing for REF 2029, please visit the Research Support website or email refinfo@admin.ox.ac.uk.