Introduction
This technical guide is aimed at those in planning and finance offices who need to have a good understanding of how Research England’s mainstream quality-related research (Mainstream QR) funding grants are calculated.
For information about the strategic purpose of our funding refer to How we fund higher education providers (HEPs).
Common principles and definitions are provided in general notes for Research England technical guides.
Eligibility
Refer to the Research England terms and conditions for general eligibility conditions for our funding.
Additionally, to be eligible for Mainstream QR funding, a HEP must have submitted to the most recent REF exercise, currently REF 2021.
Data used
Mainstream QR allocations are based on the results of the most recent REF exercise. Specifically, for each unit of assessment (UOA) submitted by each HEP within each of the three sub-profiles (Outputs, Impact, Environment) the data used is:
- staff full-time equivalent (FTE) (number of staff with significant responsibility for research employed by the HEP and submitted to the REF)
- proportion of 4-star research
- proportion of 3-star research
- information on joint submission overrides
Calculation method
Step 1
The proportion of the budget allocated within each main panel or sub-profile combination is fixed. This is done by applying weights to each of the sub-profiles (Outputs: 0.6, Impact: 0.25, Environment: 0.15) and fixing the proportion of funds allocated within each main panel to the proportions from the REF 2014 exercise.
Step 2
For each HEP, UOA and sub-profile combination:
- a quality score is calculated as “four times the proportion of 4-star research plus one times the proportion of 3-star research”
- a volume score is assigned, which is equal to the respective staff FTE
A cost weighting is also assigned to each UOA:
- high-cost laboratory and clinical subjects, with a weighting of 1.6
- intermediate cost subjects, with a weighting of 1.3
- others, with a weighting of 1.0
Finally, a London weighting is assigned to each HEP:
- 1.12 for HEPs in inner London
- 1.08 for HEPs in outer London
- 1.00 for HEPs outside London
Step 3
For each HEP, UOA and sub-profile combination, a weighted volume measure is calculated as the product of the quality score, volume score, cost weighting and London weighting.
Step 4
Within each main panel and sub-profile combination (which are each assigned a fixed proportion of the budget, as outlined in step 1, funds are allocated in proportion to the measure calculated in step 3.
Step 5
Finally, joint submission overrides are managed, where the allocations for providers involved in a joint submission are redistributed according to the joint submission percentages specified in the REF data.
Summary of constraints
There are currently no constraints placed on Mainstream QR allocations.