Impact
Information on the impact component of REF2021, including the relevant assessment criteria and FAQs.
The information on the impact component of REF2021 is taken from the Guidance on submissions (REF 2019/01) (GoS) and the Panel criteria and working methods (REF 2019/02) (PCWM) published by the REF team in January 2019. The documents were first published as drafts in July 2018 and underwent consultation before being finalised and published as Key documents. References below have been updated and refer to the final guidance documents.
Key documents from the REF2021 website
Guidance on submissions (REF 2019/01) from the REF2021 website
Panel criteria and working methods (REF 2019/02) from the REF2021 website
Impact in REF2021
| Info | Description | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Weighting | 25% of outcome awarded to submission. | GoS 26.b |
| Assessed on | Reach and significance of impacts on economy, society, culture, public policy/services, health, the environment or quality of life. | GoS 26.b |
| Number required | A minimum of two case studies for the first 20 FTE submitted, with a further case study required per 15 FTE up to 109.99 FTE after which one further case study is required per additional 50 FTE. Informatics will likely return nine impact case studies. | GoS 309 |
| Period covered |
Impacts: 01 August 2013 - 31 December 2020 (updated in light of delayed REF2021 scheduled in light of COVID-19) Underpinning research: 01 January 2000 - 31 December 2020 |
GoS 312 |
Guidance on submissions (REF 2019/01) from the REF2021 website
Detailed assessment criteria for impact case studies
| Criteria | Description | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Reach |
Reach will be understood as the extent and/or diversity of the beneficiaries of the impact, as relevant to the nature of the impact. Reach will be assessed in terms of the extent to which the potential constituencies, number or groups of beneficiaries have been reached; it will not be assessed in purely geographic terms, nor in terms of absolute numbers of beneficiaries. The criteria will be applied wherever the impact occurred, regardless of geography or location, and whether in the UK or abroad. |
PCWM 288 |
| Significance | Significance will be understood as the degree to which the impact has enabled, enriched, influenced, informed or changed the performance, policies, practices, products, services, understanding, awareness or wellbeing of the beneficiaries. | PCWM 289 |
Panel criteria and working methods (REF 2019/02) from the REF2021 website
Starred level definitions for impact case studies
| Level | General criteria from GoS annex A, table A3 |
|---|---|
| Four star | Outstanding impacts in terms of their reach and significance. |
| Three star | Very considerable impacts in terms of their reach and significance. |
| Two star | Considerable impacts in terms of their reach and significance. |
| One star | Recognised but modest impacts in terms of their reach and significance. |
| Unclassified | The impact is of little or no reach and significance; or the impact was not eligible; or the impact was not underpinned by excellent research produced by the submitted unit. |
Guidance on submissions (REF 2019/01) from the REF2021 website