Introduction

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the system from Research England for assessing research in UK higher education institutions (HEIs) and is carried out every six to eight years. REF assess the quality of university research, research culture and environment and the impact that research has had outside of academia.

The first REF assessment took place in 2014 (REF 2014), replacing the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), and the second in 2021 (REF 2021). We are now preparing for our third assessment, REF 2029.

REF 2029

The University of Bath REF preparations are already underway and being led by our Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise).

The purpose of REF2029 is to help allocate block-grant research funding (QR), provide accountability for public investment and the benefits of this, as well as provide insights into the health of research in Higher Education Institutions in the UK (https://2029.ref.ac.uk/). There have been a number of changes that have been introduced in REF2029 to the REF process. These have included having a greater focus on the institution including their research culture and environment. To find out more about the new REF guidance and what we are doing to prepare, then visit our REF2029 pages.

• more on REF 2029
• more on our REF 2029 preparations and timelines

REF 2021

For our REF 2021 submission, 92% of our research was classified as world-leading or internationally excellent.

• more on the research behind our REF 2021 submission and how we were ranked
• more from Research England on REF 2021

REF 2021 University procedures and principles

• University procedures for REF 2021 staff circumstances

• University procedure for determining the research independence of academic staff

• Processing impact case study data: information for external partners

• Privacy Policy for REF 2021

REF 2021 Code of Practice

The University has developed a Code of Practice outlining our decision making processes in relation to REF 2021.

An Equality Impact Assessment for the REF 2021 was completed and has shown that there was no evidence of any equality related issues the REF selection processes.

REF 2014

For our 2014 REF submission, 32% of our submitted research activity achieved the highest possible REF classification of 4, defined as world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour. 87% was graded 4/3*, defined as world-leading/internationally excellent. Our overall grade point average (GPA) is 3.17. Based on these results, we are placed 12th in the research quality ranking of UK universities, excluding specialist institutions.

• REF results from 2014

REF 2014 Code of practice

The University developed a Code of Practice on the selection of staff for submission to the REF. This includes full details of how staff should register circumstances which have considerably constrained their ability to produce four outputs or to work productively throughout the assessment period.

An Equality Impact Assessment for the REF 2014 was completed and has shown that there was no evidence of any equality related issues the REF selection processes.