REF 2021 Timeline

Initial decisions on the Research Excellence Framework 2021 published

The first set of the funding bodies' initial decisions on the Research Excellence Framework. Superseded by the final guidance published in Jan 2019.

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Initial decisions round 2 and sub panel recruitment

These decisions from the funding bodies' concern the submission of staff and outputs in the exercise, and further related aspects of the framework. Superseded by the final guidance published in Jan 2019.

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UOA Executive Panel meeting

Review meetings to discuss the progress of the submission for each UOA, attended by UOA leads and representatives from the Research Excellence Board (REB).

REB - Remit and membership

Draft guidance on submissions, draft guidance on codes of practice and consultation on the panel criteria and working methods published

These documents include the draft general framework for assessment for REF 2021, guidance to HEIs about making submissions, including codes of practice and the draft assessment criteria and working methods of the main and sub-panels for the REF 2021. All now superseded by the final guidance published in Jan 2019.

Publications from REF 2021

UOA Executive Panel meeting

Review meetings to discuss the progress of the submission for each UOA, attended by UOA leads and representatives from the Research Excellence Board (REB).

REB - Remit and membership

Final guidance on submissions, guidance on codes of practice and the panel criteria and working methods published

These documents set out the final version of the general framework for assessment for REF 2021, final guidance to HEIs about making submissions, including codes of practice and the final assessment criteria and working methods of the main and sub-panels for the REF 2021.

Publications from REF 2021

Research Independence survey opens

The independent researcher survey provides a route for ‘academic research’ staff to declare their indicators of independence for REF eligibility consideration.

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Special submission requests invited

The UK REF team will consider requests for multiple submissions, exception from submission for small units and for impact case studies requiring security clearance. HEIs have a set of deadlines during this period to make these requests. To discuss a request, please contact Research and innovation services.

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UOA Executive Panel meeting

Review meetings to discuss the progress of the submission for each UOA, attended by UOA leads and representatives from the Research Excellence Board (REB).

REB - Remit and membership

University of St Andrews Institutional Code of practice submitted to SFC

Circumstances review survey opens

The individual circumstances survey provides a route for REF eligible staff to declare circumstances that have had an influence on their ability to work productively during the REF period.

Staggered deadlines : request submission esception for small units ; case studies requiring security clearance

UOA Executive Panel meeting

Review meetings to discuss the progress of the submission for each UOA, attended by UOA leads and representatives from the Research Excellence Board.

Intention to submit survey

The survey will collect information from HEIs about their submission intentions, to assist with planning of the assessment phase for REF 2021. The information provided in the survey will inform further appointments of members and assessors to the sub-panels. This survey will be co-ordinated by Research and innovation services

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Final deadline: Survey of submissions intentions, request submission exception for small units and flag case studies requiring security clearance

The UK REF team will consider requests for multiple submissions, exception from submission for small units and for impact case studies requiring security clearance. HEIs have a set of deadlines during this period to make these requests. To discuss a request, please contact Research and innovation services

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IRED independence decisions

The institutional REF equality and diversity review group will make decisions on independence based on anonymised circumstances anonymised reports.

Independent Researcher Survey
Individual Circumstances Survey

Appeals open

The Appeals process is laid out in full in the institutional REF 2021 Code of Practice

REF 2021 Code of Practice

UOA check-ins begin

Each Head of School and UOA Director of Research will meet confidentially, at least once from January 2020, with members of staff eligible to be submitted to the REF (referred to as ‘REF Individual Check-ins’). An additional REF E&D trained member of academic staff can also be present at the check-in if the member of staff feels that articulating their case would be improved by having a colleague present.

REF 2021 Code of Practice

REF environment workshop – 20th January

An Environment workshop at which cognate Units can come together and discuss the process of developing their Unit level environment templates and share best practice. Each School is strongly encouraged to send a representative, this needs to be someone closely involved in the writing of the Unit environment template but it does NOT necessarily need to be the Director of Research themselves. Attendees should submit their current drafts for the workshop by 14th January.

Deadline for Impact Case studies – 17th February

DOIs should submit their final case study drafts to the impact team by 17th February.

Deadline for outputs and Environment – 2nd March

UOA leads should submit their final environment draft to the impact team by 2nd March. UOA leads should also ensure all scoring and output metadata for REF2 is entered in Pure by the snapshot deadline of 2nd March.

Deadline to apply for circumstances to remove minimum of one output and unit

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UOA Executive Panel meeting

Review meetings to discuss the progress of the submission for each UOA, attended by UOA leads and representatives from the Research Excellence Board.To be scheduled from 20th April to 7 May.

Research Excellence Board

Outcomes from circumstances requests communicated

Census date

Census date for staff; end of assessment period (for the research environment, and data about research income and doctoral degrees awarded)

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Independence and Circumstances surveys closed

All survey responses will be processed up to the REF census date.

Independent Researcher Survey
Individual Circumstances Survey

UOA Executive Panel meeting

Review meetings to discuss the progress of the submission for each UOA, attended by UOA leads and representatives from the Research Excellence Board.

Research Excellence Board

Research Outputs and Research Impact

End of assessment period for research publications and impact. As part of the contingency arrangements for REF 2021, the impact assessment period has been universally extended and case studies may therefore describe specific examples of impact achieved in the period 1 August 2013 to 31 December 2020.

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UOA sign-off for submission content

Details of sign off process to be confirmed.

Deadline for providing further details for outputs pending publication; redacted versions of impact case studies; and corroborating evidence held for impact case studies

UK REF Timetable

Submission of REF

Closing date for all HEI submissions

UK REF Timetable

Panels assess submissions

The assessment phase of the REF is likely to run from April 2021 and continue to March 2022 and will involve the full assessment of submissions made by institutions.

REF 2021 Panels

Publication of outcomes

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Publication of submissions, panel overview reports and sub-profiles

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