Background to REF 2021

QMU and the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. Taking place roughly every six or seven years, the results are used to provide information about the quality of a university's research for external benchmarking and the allocation of research funding.

The REF is undertaken by the four UK higher education funding bodies: Research England, the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW), and the Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland (DfE).

The funding bodies’ shared policy aim for research assessment is to secure the continuation of a world-class, dynamic and responsive research base across the full academic spectrum within UK higher education.