This page has been updated in accordance with the revised timetable. The full 'Guidance on revisions to REF 2021' following the effects of COVID-19 can be found here.
Date |
Action |
|
September 2017 |
Publication of ‘Initial decisions on the Research Excellence Framework’ by the funding bodies, following consultation on implementation of the Stern review recommendations (REF 2017/01) |
|
October 2017 |
Publication of ‘Roles and recruitment of expert panels’ (REF 2017/03) |
|
November 2017 |
Publication of ’Decisions on staff and outputs’ (2017/04) |
|
March 2018 |
Panel membership for criteria phase announced |
|
End of July 2018 |
Publication of draft ‘Guidance on submissions’ and ‘Panel criteria’ for consultation |
|
15 October 2018 |
Close of consultation on draft ‘Guidance on submissions’ and ‘Panel criteria’ |
|
January 2019 |
Publication of final ‘Guidance on submissions’, ’Panel criteria’, and ‘Guidance on codes of practice’; appointment of additional EDAP members |
|
Spring/summer 2019 |
Institutions intending to make submissions to the REF submit their codes of practice; invitation to request multiple submissions, case studies requiring security clearance, and exceptions to submission for small units (staggered deadlines in May, September and December 2019); beta versions of the submission system will be available in both test and live environments for institutions to use |
|
Autumn 2019 |
Pilot of the REF submission system; survey of submissions intentions opens; proposed date for inviting reduction requests for staff circumstances |
|
December 2019 |
Survey of submissions intentions complete; final deadline for requests for multiple submissions, case studies requiring security clearance, and exceptions to submission for small units; publication of approved codes of practice |
|
Early 2020 |
Formal release of the submission systems and accompanying technical guidance; invitation to HEIs to make submissions; invitation to nominate panel members and assessors for the assessment phase; deadline for staff circumstances requests |
|
31 July 2020 |
Exercise recommences; Census date for staff; end of assessment period (the research environment and data about research income and research doctoral degrees awarded) |
|
14 August 2020 |
Final deadline for REF6a requests further information |
|
21 August 2020 |
Final deadline for REF6b requests further information |
|
W/c 14 September 2020 |
Outcomes of REF6 requests released |
|
Autumn 2020 |
Appointment of additional members and assessors to panels |
|
2 November 2020 |
Deadline for HEIs to seek agreement to submit impact case studies from research that was undertaken by an absorbed unit before that unit became part of the submitting HEI; deadline for submission of requests for an output reduction in a unit affected by major unforeseen events |
|
By 6 November 2020 |
Funding bodies’ review of contingency arrangements |
|
31 December 2020 |
End of publication period (cut-off point for publication of research outputs, and for outputs underpinning impact case studies); end of impact assessment period |
|
31 March 2021 (Midday) |
Closing date for submissions |
|
1 June 2021 |
Deadline for providing redacted versions of impact case studies and corroborating evidence held for impact case studies |
|
30 July 2021 |
Deadline for submission of staff circumstances report, equalities impact assessment, and final Codes of practice |
|
May 2021 – February 2022 |
Panels assess submissions |
|
April 2022 |
Publication of outcomes |
|
Summer 2022 |
Publication of submissions, panel overview reports and sub-profiles |