REF FAQs

Research Excellence Framework FAQs

This page shares the answers to some commonly asked questions about impact in the REF. It will be updated as further official guidance is published:

Can my case study go into a different Unit of Assessment to my research?* Can the same project be submitted more than once to different Units of Assessment or by other institutions?* I submitted a case study to a previous REF. Can I submit the same project again in 2029?*

Yes, although it may need to be marked as a Continued Case Study. In 2021, a Case Study was considered to be Continued if both:

a. the body of underpinning research is the same as described in the 2014 case study. This should not be understood solely in relation to the referenced outputs, but means that the continued case study does not describe any new research having taken place since the previous case study that has made a distinct and material contribution to the impact; and

b. there is significant overlap in the impact described, so that the impact types and beneficiaries are broadly the same as described in the 2014 case study.

A case study will be considered ‘New’ where additional underpinning research has taken place since that described in the previous case study, which has made a distinct and material contribution to the impact, and/or the impact types or beneficiaries have changed.

In all cases, new/continued impacts must have taken place in the relevant submission period.

Some of my research was done at another institution, how does this affect my case study?

The impact in your case study must be underpinned by research that was produced by the submitting unit, so research done at a previous institution cannot be included in a case study. You may be able to include research that was done at Warwick that builds on previous work, as long as there is a clear link between the impact and the research from Warwick.

For further guidance, please contact your Impact Manager.

What qualifies as underpinning research?*

Each case study must list research outputs that made a ‘distinct and material’ contribution to the impact taking place. These outputs must have been produced at Warwick during the relevant research eligibility period (tbc, but likely to be from around 2008 – 2028). Eligible outputs are not limited to printed academic work, but could include other kinds of output arising from research, for example, exhibitions, performances, devices or products, data sets, patents, reports, or software.

Case studies may be underpinned by a body of work produced over a number of years on a relevant topic, or the outcomes of a particular project.

In REF2029, the requirement that outputs reach the 2* quality threshold has been removed, so researchers will not be required to provide any indicators of quality.

Can PhD research be used to underpin an impact case study?* I am not on a research contract; can my research still be used to underpin a case study?*

Yes. In REF2021, research undertaken by staff who were not on a research contract was eligible to underpin a case study, as long as the research has been undertaken at Warwick. This could include research that was done by someone employed at another organisation (except another HEI) but whose research was done through Warwick; for example, an NHS staff member whose role includes research, and who conducted this research through Warwick.

If my research has had an impact on other researchers or teaching, is that eligible to be included in a case study?*

For the purposes of REF, impact is only eligible for inclusion if it is impact beyond academia. Impact on an academic discipline is therefore ineligible to be included.

In REF2021, the guidance was changed to include impacts on students and teaching within and beyond the submitting institution, although impact on the researcher’s own institution would not normally be expected to form the basis of a full case study.

If you are considering including impact on university-level teaching in your case study, you should think carefully about what both the reach and significance of these claims are.

Impacts on teaching in schools are also eligible for inclusion in a case study.

What arrangements are there for dealing with confidential information in case studies?*

It is possible to request that case studies are not published on the public database, or to request that sections of the case study are redacted for publication. Impact evidence submitted alongside the case study is not published.

There will be a process in place for managing conflicts of interest for REF panel members.

If there are any national security concerns relating to the information in your case study, there will be arrangements in place for requesting a review by individuals with appropriate security clearance. This may include requesting advance permission from REF to submit the case study. If this is relevant to your case study, please raise this with your Impact Manager.

Where should I store my impact evidence? The new REF2029 guidance refers to ‘Engagement and Impact’. How will engagement be incorporated into the impact assessment?

REF have produced a FAQLink opens in a new window document, which states that engagement will be assessed through the disciplinary level evidence statement, which is submitted alongside the case studies. We therefore do not anticipate that case studies which focus solely on engagement, and provide no evidence of impact, would be eligible for REF submission. However, engagement remains a valuable pathway to impact, and could be included in this context.

We will continue to update this answer as further guidance is received.

The new REF2029 guidance refers to ‘rigour’ as a criterion, in addition to reach and significance. How will this be assessed?

In their FAQLink opens in a new window document, REF have stated that:

We recognise that engagement may not be a central part to every case study and that excellent impact may occur serendipitously. It is expected that the criterion of rigour will be applied to the unit’s approaches to engagement and impact, for example how they ensure that engagement is carried out in an ethical manner with awareness of potential inequities in relationships with non-academic partners.

We will continue to update this answer as further guidance is published.

*This answer is based on REF2021 guidance.

Do you still have a question? Take a look at the REF guidance summary page or contact the Research Impact team at