R&IS News

Following the recent pause to criteria setting and publication of final guidance of REF 2029, today the four funding bodies (Research England, the Scottish Funding Council, Medr, and Department for Economy, Northern Ireland) formally resumed the process, accompanied by several significant updates. Research and Impact Services are now working to produce detailed summaries of the guidance but below is a summary of the key points so far.

REF 2029 Timetable

- Submission remains scheduled for autumn 2028.

- Final Guidance on Submissions and Panel Criteria and Working Methods will be published in late 2026.

REF 2029 Structure and Weightings

- People, Culture and Environment (PCE) is now Strategy, People and Research Environment (SPRE).

- Updated weightings:

• Contribution to Knowledge and Understanding (Outputs): 55% (50% previously)
• Engagement and Impact: 25% (no change)
• SPRE: 20% (previously 25% under PCE)

Contributions to Knowledge and Understanding (55%)

- Recommended maximum of five outputs per researcher, with justification required if exceeded.

- No disciplinary-level statement required for submission.

- Outputs may be submitted to multiple units if aligned to Unit of Assessment descriptors.

- Contribution for multi-authored outputs must be demonstrated.

Engagement and Impact (25%)

- Assessment of impact case studies only. No disciplinary-level statement required for submission.

- No major changes to REF2021 impact guidance.

- Impact period: 1 August 2020 – 31 July 2028; Underpinning research: 1 January 2008 – 31 December 2028.

- Minimum one case study for small units (two recommended).

- REF template to have same format as REF2021 with 2,200-word limit over a three-section structure.

- ICS can be submitted to any/all UOAs where the underpinning research fits the UOA remit and where it made a distinct and material contribution to the impact.

Strategy, People and Research Environment (20%)

- Reporting period 1 August 2020 – 31 July 2028.

- Submission of Institutional-level statement as well as Unit of Assessment-level statement, weighted 60% and 40%, respectively.

- Templates and recommended indicators to be released in 2026.

- Four sections for both Institutional-level and Unit of Assessment-level statements:

• Context, mission, and strategy
• People
• Income, infrastructure, and facilities
• Collaboration, engagement, and impact

Unit of Assessment level statements also require:

• Research Community (roles and careers)
• Statement of Representation
• Approach to engagement and impact

If you have any questions, please contact the Research and REF Planning Team in Research and Impact Services.