Key documents
This document describes the revisions to the timetable for the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 and the changes and additions made to the guidance to take account of the effects of COVID-19. The revised deadline for submissions is midday, 31 March 2021.
This document sets out the general framework for assessment in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) and guidance to UK higher education institutions about making submissions to REF 2021. It includes guidance on procedures, the data that will be required, and the criteria and definitions that will apply. The deadline for submissions is midday, 31 March 2021.
This document sets out the assessment criteria and working methods of the main and sub-panels for the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF).
This document sets out the guidance to UK higher education institutions about submitting codes of practice in REF 2021. It is published alongside the ‘guidance on submissions’, and ‘Panel criteria and working methods’.
This document sets out the guidance to UK higher education institutions for audit in REF 2021. It is published alongside the ‘Guidance on submissions’. It describes the approaches and methods that will be used to provide assurance that the data submitted are accurate, verifiable and robust.
This document sets out the guidance and criteria for the pilot of the standalone assessment of the institutional-level environment statement. The pilot assessment will be undertaken in parallel to the unit level assessment of the environment in REF 2021 and this guidance is supplementary to the ‘Guidance on submissions’ (REF 2019/01) and the ‘Panel criteria and working methods’ (REF 2019/02)
Guidance on further contingency measures
This section provides guidance on further contingency measures for HEIs in response to the increasing effects of COVID-19 on preparing submissions to REF 2021.
View guidance on further contingency measures here
Additional guidance
Provides additional guidance on specific areas, including independent research fellowships, standardising quantitative indicators of impact, and using indicators in the environment statement.
View additional guidance documents
Guidance on excluding parts of submissions from publication
This section provides guidance for institutions wishing to exclude parts of their submissions from publication.
Data management guidance
This section provides information on the data we will collect in the REF, how we will process the data, and the arrangements regarding personal, sensitive and confidential data. This includes a template declaration form for staff circumstances.
View data management guidance documents
Citation and contextual data guidance
This section provides information on the citation and contextual data that will be provided for REF 2021. It explains the service that Clarivate will provide, including the service level agreement, and provides example data for HEIs.
View Citation and contextual data guidance documents
Submission system data requirements
This section provides further details of the data required in submissions and will enable institutions to prepare data to import to the REF submission system.
View guidance on submission system data requirements
Submitting research outputs
This section provides information about submitting research outputs in electronic and physical formats.
View guidance on submitting research outputs
Audit guidance
This section will provide information and guidance about the arrangements for audit and verification of submissions.
Training and events materials
This section contains all training materials provided by the REF team and any slides and/or videos from REF webinars and events.
View additional training and events materials