REF 2029

What is the REF?

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the UK’s system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. A key mechanism underpinning the allocation of around £2 billion annually in research funding, REF ensures accountability for public investment and provides critical insight into the health and impact of UK research.

The assessment takes place roughly every seven years and is managed by Research England on behalf of all four UK higher education funding bodies.

The REF is of considerable strategic importance for The University of Manchester. It secures significant income for the University in terms of quality-related (QR) funding, provides an authoritative independent verification of the University’s research excellence, and feeds into national rankings and league tables.

Manchester makes one of the largest and broadest submissions to the REF. In the last exercise (REF 2021), we submitted 2,249 staff across 31 disciplinary ‘units of assessment (UOAs). This included submitting 5,200 outputs and 160 impact case studies.

The University did well in REF 2021 and was ranked 5^th in the UK for ‘research power’. Overall, 90% of our research outputs, 96% of our research impact, and 99% of our research environment received the highest scores of 3* (internationally excellent) or 4* (world leading).

Read more about the University of Manchester’s REF 2021 results.

How is REF 2029 different from the last exercise?

Reshaped assessment elements

To support a broader assessment of excellence in REF 2029, the funding bodies have reshaped and rebalanced the three core assessment elements of the REF to include a broader range of research and impact-enabling activities.

Contribution to Knowledge and Understanding (CKU) (55% weighting) – replaces the outputs element. It will be based on assessment of research outputs, which can take many forms.
Engagement and Impact (E&I) (25% weighting) – replaces the impact element. It will consist of impact case studies.
Strategy, People and Research Environment (SPRE) (20% weighting) – replaces the environment element and includes an increased emphasis on research culture. Submissions are made at institutional-level (IL) and unit-level (UL) and include narratives statements as well as data on PGR completions and research income.

Shifting focus to institutions

REF 2029 will continue to break the link between individual staff members and unit submissions, moving away from assessing individuals and towards assessing institutions, disciplinary groupings and teams. Instead of a staff ‘census date’ as in previous exercises, a ‘volume measure’ will now be used to determine the number of outputs and impact case studies that need to be submitted, based on an average calculated using HESA staff record data. This avoids individual staff being classified as ‘in’ or ‘out’ of REF.

Engagement and impact

The previous 2* underpinning research requirement is no longer in place. Impact now includes engagement, highlighting a broader acknowledgement of the applications of research outside of HEIs. Case studies can be authored by a broader range of contributors, including PGR students and research-enabling staff.

Focusing on strategy, people and research environment

The funding bodies will expand the Strategy, People and Research Environment (SPRE) element for REF 2029, reflecting a global shift that recognises research environment and research culture as crucial in supporting high quality research with impact. A pilot of this approach was conducted in collaboration with the sector to refine the methodology before wider implementation

REF timetable

Research England works to a timetable from the beginning of the REF cycle to submission. The submission date for REF 2029 will be in autumn 2028, with the publication of results planned for December 2029.

Funding Councils guidance and publications

REF 2029 guidance

The latest guidance for REF 2029 was published in December 2025:

Outline guidance on all aspects of the REF 2029 submission

The final Guidance on Submissions and Panel Criteria and Working Methods is currently being developed by the REF Panels. This is due to be published in Autumn 2026.

REF 2029 Panel membership

Several University of Manchester colleagues have been selected to serve on REF 2029 panels, playing a vital role in the successful delivery of the exercise on behalf of the sector. Their appointments recognise their expertise and standing in their respective fields. A full list of main and sub-panels, including chairs and deputy chairs is below.

Main Panel	Sub-panel(s)	Role	Name
	People and Diversity Advisory Panel	Member	Professor Toni Haastrup
MPA	UOA2 Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care	Member	Professor Peter Bower
MPA	UOA3 Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy	Member	Professor Zeeshan Ahmad
MPA	UOA3 Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy	Member	Professor Penny Bee
MPA	UOA3 Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy	Member	Professor Anne-Marie Glenny
MPA	UOA5 Biological Sciences	Member	Professor Andy Sharrocks
MPB	Main Panel B: Physical Sciences, Engineering and Mathematics	Main panel deputy chair	Professor Chris Taylor
MPB	UOA8 Chemistry	Member	Professor David Leigh
MPB	UOA9 Physics	Member	Professor Sean Freeman
MPB	UOA10 Mathematical Sciences	Member	Professor Francoise Tisseur
MPB	UOA11 Computer Science and Informatics	Member	Professor Uli Sattler
MPB	UOA12 Engineering	Sub-panel deputy chair	Professor Sarah Sharples
MPB	UOA12 Engineering	Member	Professor Bill Sampson
MPC	UOA13 Architecture, Built Environment and Planning	Member	Professor Stephen Walker
MPC	UOA17 Business and Management Studies	Member	Professor Bruce Tether
MPC	UOA19 Politics and International Studies	Member	Professor James Pattison
MPC	UOA20 Social Work and Social Policy	Member	Dr Alexander Nunn
MPC	UOA21 Sociology	Sub-panel chair	Professor Claire Alexander
MPC	UOA21 Sociology	Member	Professor Kate Reed
MPC	UOA22 Anthropology and Development Studies	Member	Professor Sam Hickey
MPC	UOA22 Anthropology and Development Studies	Member	Professor Hannah Knox
MPC	UOA23 Education	Member	Professor Steven Courtney
MPD	UOA25 Area Studies	Member	Professor Zahia Smail Salhi
MPD	UOA27 English Language and Literature	Member	Professor David Matthews
MPD	UOA28 History	Member	Professor Sadiah Qureshi
MPD	UOA29 Classics	Member	Professor Peter Liddel
MPD	UOA33 Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies	Sub-panel deputy chair	Dr Kate Dorney
MPD	UOA34 Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management	Member	Professor David O’Brien
MPA MPC	UOA 4 Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience UOA 18 Law	Secretary	Dr Cathal Rogers

People and governance

Faculty and School organisation

Faculties have established governance and support structures for their REF2029 preparations as appropriate for their UOAs. Organograms outlining the structures and individuals involved are available.

REF 2029 Project Board

The University’s REF 2029 preparations are overseen by the REF 2029 Project Board; the membership is listed below.

Role	Name
Vice-President for Research (Chair)	Prof. Colette Fagan
Associate Vice-President for Research and Innovation	Prof. Rich Curry
Associate Vice-President for Research and Innovation	Prof. Melissa Westwood
Associate Vice-President for Digital Strategy	Prof. Chris Taylor
Vice Dean for Research and Innovation, FBMH	Prof. Andy Trafford
Vice Dean for Research and Innovation, FHUMS	Prof. Maggie Gale
Vice Dean for Research and Innovation, FSE	Prof. Sarah Haigh
Research Excellence and Impact Manager, FBMH	Rupa Lunan
Faculty Research Strategy Manager, FHUMS	Elaine Edwards
Faculty Research Policy and REF Manager, FSE	Dr Chris Roberts
Head of Research Strategy Team, RBE	Sarah Albutt
Research Culture and Assessment Manager, RBE	Dr Cathal Rogers
Research Development and Impact Manager, RBE	Dr Laura Breen
Research Strategy Projects Officer, RBE (Secretary)	Louise McMahon
One REF Associate Dean per faculty to be invited to each meeting, based on the agenda items to be discussed (i.e. outputs, impact, environment)

Terms of reference for the group.

Code of Practice

What is the REF 2029 Code of Practice?

The Code of Practice outlines the University’s approach to preparing its REF 2029 submission, compliant with all relevant legislation and aligned with the principles of robustness, transparency, and equality and inclusion.

The full Code of Practice can be accessed by all staff here: The University of Manchester REF 2029 Code of Practice.

This Code of Practice was submitted to Research England for approval in May 2026. We have also produced a summary for all staff.

How does it apply to me?

We encourage every member of academic or research staff to read this document as it outlines how the University will prepare its REF submission in fair, robust and transparent way.

REF 2029 introduces significant changes from previous exercises, focusing assessment on research units instead of individuals, decoupling staff and outputs, removing lists of ‘submitted’ staff, removing a minimum number of outputs to be submitted per individual, and broadening the pool of eligible research outputs. So, while REF 2029 does not focus on individuals, its is important staff are aware of the Code of Practice, as this details how the University will select outputs for inclusion in the submission, how we determine which contracts are included in the volume measure, and how we allocate eligible contracts to UOAs.

The University’s Code of Practice for REF 2029 represents a refresh and improvement of the University’s REF 2021 Code of Practice, reflecting and embracing the new requirements of the next exercise.

Equality Impact Assessments

Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs) have been completed by the Research Strategy Team for the Code of Practice as a whole, and for the individual processes of identifying significant responsibility for research and research independence, the allocation of contracts to UoAs, and the selection of outputs. These EIAs have been approved by the University’s EDI team and the senior sponsor. These EIAs will be available to all staff upon approval of our Code of Practice by Research England.

Approval of the Code of Practice

Ahead of submission to Research England, the University’s Code of Practice was approved by the REF Project Board, Research Committee, Senate AQSC, and University Executive. Consultation included all staff with any responsibility for the REF submission, the academic leads for EDI, and the Trade Union Negotiating Group (TUNG).

REF preparations at The University of Manchester

How are we preparing at The University of Manchester?

Research Review Exercise (RRE)

Our preparations for the ‘outputs’ aspect of the REF submission are via the Research Review Exercise (RRE). More information on the RRE, including guidance, timelines and FAQs can be found on the RRE intranet pages.

Impact

At Manchester, we have dedicated impact professionals in all schools and faculties. These colleagues work with academics and researchers to help develop and evidence their research impact, for REF and beyond. Learn more about research impact support at The University of Manchester.

Further information

Where can I find further information?

For queries concerning the University’s REF preparations, including the REF 2029 Code of Practice, please contact your Faculty REF Manager in the first instance:

FBMH: FBMHResearchReviewExercise@manchester.ac.uk
FHums: FHumsRRE@manchester.ac.uk
FSE: RRE@Manchester.ac.uk

The Research Strategy Team in the Directorate of Research and Business and Engagement (RBE), can be contacted at ref2029@manchester.ac.uk.