Research Excellence Framework (REF)

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the UK’s system for assessing the excellence of research in UK higher education providers (HEIs). The REF outcomes are used to inform the allocation of around £2 billion per year of public funding for universities’ research.

The REF was first carried out in 2014, replacing the previous Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). Research England manages the REF on behalf of all four UK higher education funding bodies:

• Research England
• Scottish Funding Council
• Medr, Wales’ Commission for Tertiary Education and Research
• Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland

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

• inform the allocation of block-grant research funding to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) based on research quality
• provide accountability for public investment in research and produce evidence of the benefits of this investment
• provide insights into the health of research in HEIs in the UK.

The University is currently developing submissions to REF 2029. View more information on REF 2029.

UWE Bristol’s ambition is that "through our research, we will transform the future, advance knowledge, support sustainable economic growth and development, enhance social and cultural development, promote health and wellbeing, equality and diversity, and the quality of built and natural environments" - from our Transforming Futures 2020-2030 Research Strategy.

Following our success in REF 2021, UWE Bristol recognises REF 2029 as another important measure of our progress as a research ambitious institution. UWE Bristol’s approach to REF 2029 embodies the principles of robustness, transparency, equity and inclusion, as set our in REF 2029 Code of Practice (PDF), approved by the funding bodies in August 2026. 

For further information on UWE Bristol's approach to REF 2029, please contact Mark Tomlinson, Research Excellence Manager at mark2.tomlinson@uwe.ac.uk.

To find out more about some of the great impacts that research at UWE Bristol has made, please visit our RISE pages.

84% of our research impact is considered world leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021).