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 quality-related research (QR) research degree programme (RDP) supervision fund 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 receive QR RDP funding, HEPs must have submitted to the most recent REF exercise.
Data used
The most recent data from the following sources is used to determine each HEP’s QR RDP allocation.
REF
Overall profiles: Percentage of 2-star, 3-star, and 4-star research for each unit of assessment (UOA).
HESA higher education student data
Specific details on the data points used can be found in the QR RDP supervision fund data summary supporting information.
Calculation method
Step 1
The eligible PGR student FTE is calculated for each UOA, multiple submission (where applicable), and HEP using the approach outlined in the QR RDP technical documentation supporting information. In summary, PGR students are eligible for inclusion in the calculation if they meet the following conditions:
- Research England fundable
- actively pursuing a PGR qualification
- not on an incoming exchange year
In this context, a student is inactive if they are dormant or intercalating for the entirety of the reference period (in this case, the academic year). A student is active if they do not fit these criteria.
Formal collaborative programmes are treated in the following way. For current supervision, although we take account of the quality profile of the other providers in calculating QR RDP supervision funding, all funding is allocated to the reporting HEP for distribution as agreed between the HEPs concerned. For sequential supervision, we will split the associated QR RDP supervision funding across the HEPs concerned, reflecting the formal handover of the student.
Step 2
A quality score is calculated for each UOA, multiple submission (where applicable), and HEP as the percentage of 4-star and 3-star research as a proportion of the percentage of 4-star, 3-star, and 2-star research. For example:
Quality score = (percent of 4 star + percent of 3 star) ÷ (percent of 4 star + percent of 3 star + percent of 2 star)
Step 3
A volume measure is calculated by multiplying the eligible PGR student FTE by UOA cost weightings (1.6 for high-cost laboratory and clinical subjects, 1.3 for intermediate-cost subjects, 1.0 for others), quality score (as calculated in step 2), and London weightings (1.12 for HEPs in inner London, 1.08 for HEPs in outer London, 1.00 for HEPs outside London).
Step 4
The QR RDP budget is distributed between each UOA, multiple submission (where applicable), and HEP in proportion to the volume measure calculated in step 3.
Summary of constraints
There are currently no constraints placed on QR RDP allocations.