The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the UK’s system for evaluating the quality of our excellent research and its impact.

We are currently preparing for our submission to REF 2029. To be allowed to make this submission, we are required to develop and submit a Code of Practice (CoP) for approval by Research England.

Purpose of our CoP

Our CoP documents the key processes relating to REF 2029. It outlines who will take decisions on what will be included in our REF 2029 submission and how these decisions will be made.

Our CoP is designed to embed the following principles:

  • Robustness – Ensuring our submission is an accurate representation of our research, its strengths and diversity.
  • Transparency – Ensuring our approach is clear and effectively communicated.
  • Equity and Inclusion – Ensuring our submission is fair, impartial and values and supports diversity of people and research.

Why we need your input

In recent months we have been working with colleagues across academic departments and professional services to produce our draft CoP. This has been reviewed by the University’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee and we are now sharing it with all staff.

You will be able to access the CoP document from this page from 23 February.

Your feedback will help to ensure that we have considered the views of the whole research community and wider University stakeholders. It will also help to ensure that our CoP is an accurate representation of our processes and decision-making and that these are robust, transparent, equitable and inclusive.

How to get involved

Consultation events
Engage directly with senior staff leading our REF 2029 submission preparations via all-staff consultation events. Professor Emma Carmel (Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor Research) and Dr Jane Hallett (Deputy Director for Research Performance, Information and Insights) will provide an update and answer your questions.

All are welcome to attend – please register using the links below:

The online event on 27th February will be recorded and the recording made available after the event.

All-staff survey
Provide your feedback on our CoP by completing a short survey. The survey will be open from Monday 23 February to Friday 13 March 2026.

You will be able to access the survey from this webpage from 23 February.

Responses will be analysed and feedback considered for incorporation into our CoP.

What happens next

Following the consultation, our CoP will be updated based on feedback received. The final version will be submitted to Senate and University Executive Board for approval in April 2026, and we will submit our CoP to Research England by the deadline of 15 May 2026.

Further information

  • For up-to-date information from the REF Team at Research England, visit: REF 2029
  • For any questions please email the University REF team: ref@bath.ac.uk