Research Excellence Framework

Short time horizons and a focus on cost-efficiency are limiting production of truly groundbreaking research, say Moqi Groen-Xu and Peter Coveney

Immediate review of outputs by a REF reviewer could be more efficient, transparent, informative and, above all, fair, says Martin Lang

Britain’s claims to ‘science superpower’ status look shaky as it is being outperformed by smaller nations on top-rated papers, says study lead

Forcing teaching-focused academics to produce 3* research is like asking a world-class cricket bowler to focus on batting, says a research director

‘Mother of ERA’ now charting its demise, as the ‘law of diminishing returns’ prompts a rethink

More details emerge of how sharp rise in quality outputs and tweak to funding formula are hitting institutions

Sciences gain £145 million that would have gone to humanities and social sciences under old system

New Research England head reflects on her roundabout route into academia and the future of research evaluation

Automation should only be used to support peer review and not usurp it, finds major study

Bibliometric-led evaluation of research outputs unable to replicate ‘richness’ of peer-review model

Research England examining study on how AI might be used to predict quality of research outputs

Retiring Research England executive chair reflects on REF, impact and open access

University breached advertising rules by claiming its arts and humanities research was ‘number one’ in UK, says regulator

Changing world in research means substantial changes to UK assessment needed, says outgoing chair of Research England

Modern institutions get millions more in quality-related grants, in first allocations to use 2021 REF results

Narratives describing research in departments should be replaced by institution-level document, recommends funder-backed study

More innovative screening of grant applications that avoid full peer review could remove red tape burden on researchers, says Adam Tickell

Research England unveils substantial uplifts for both quality-related research funding and knowledge exchange activities

Analysis reveals that UK scholars tend to move to jobs that bring them into closer conformity with disciplinary standards, says Juan Pablo Pardo-Guerra

Despite being the second largest REF submitter, business ranks 30th of 34 disciplines on research income per FTE, says Robert MacIntosh

Analysis suggests philosophy professor’s old department may net as much as £333,000 from the activities that saw her targeted by activists

There is always more to a research question than the underpinning science. So work with the people you are studying, says Nicola Ray

The president of the University of Würzburg discusses the differences between the two systems, why he’s joined a European university alliance and the benefits of interdisciplinary working

But overall data on reclassification of staff does not show obvious impact on results

Lengthy statements on the research environment found in university departments are increasingly under scrutiny

The next exercise should clarify its purpose and language, relax its disciplinary focus and refine research culture, says James Wilsdon

Increased use of ‘team science’ may have been a major factor in latest REF scores, say experts, but this may be no bad thing

Experts debate whether erosion of dominance will prompt redrawing of funding criteria

Without practical teaching at their heart, many departments of music technology, drama and dance could face closure, says Ian Pace

James Wilsdon says he is open-minded about including more metrics in future research assessments

Northumbria’s REF 2021 results emphasise that growing research capability can benefit teaching, business and employment, says Andrew Wathey

Review to revisit conclusions of 2015’s The Metric Tide

Long-standing debates about what ‘research quality’ means make it obvious that the REF can be little more than make-believe, says Martyn Hammersley

The extent of research‘s cross-subsidisation by overseas student fees is too rarely understood by policymakers and academics alike, says Ruth Arnold

There is no evidence in art and design that the REF drives a wedge between research and students' interests, says Victoria Kelley

REF supremo David Sweeney and Manchester research lead Colette Fagan hit back at criticisms of measuring societal and economic contributions

University of Oxford leads education subject table based on GPA

The University of Cambridge claims top spot, with the London School of Economics dropping to fourth

London School of Economics tops economics and econometrics subject table based on GPA

University of Reading leads archaeology unit of assessment table based on GPA

Durham and Bristol tied at the top as King’s College London, Loughborough and Northumbria make gains

University of Cambridge leads architecture, built environment and planning unit of assessment table based on GPA

Imperial College London leads engineering subject table based on GPA

Oxford and Cambridge dominance in mathematics continues as Glasgow and Edinburgh improve standings

Imperial College London is in pole position after near-perfect scores while the University of Edinburgh tops research power standings

The University of Sheffield climbs to the top, while Manchester and Cambridge are second and third

University of Cambridge tops earth systems and environmental sciences table based on GPA

The University of Bristol came top for chemistry, with the University of Cambridge coming second

Queen’s University Belfast tops agriculture, food and veterinary sciences table based on GPA

The Institute of Cancer Research retained its place at the top, with the University of Dundee also staying second

King’s College London tops subject table for allied health professions, dentistry, nursing and pharmacy, based on GPA

Imperial College London climbs from seventh to first as Oxford falls to third

Imperial, Cambridge and Bristol all climb a place while Oxford drops from first to fourth

Leicester and Glasgow clinch spots among top five as Cambridge leads the chart, with Oxford first for research power

The REF may no longer be the only game in town, but it remains a dominant force in UK research. So as the REF 2021 results are released, is it still fit for purpose?

Four in five outputs judged to be either ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’

Main panel C records biggest increase in number of submissions and participating staff

Although major players still dominate on research power, some large – and small – regional institutions have made their mark

The latest iteration of the UK’s national research audit has fulfilled its aim to identify research quality across the whole system, says David Sweeney

Greater weighting helps medical institutions in particular improve overall positions