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The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the UK’s system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. It first took place in 2014. The next exercise will be conducted in 2021.

Preparations are underway for REF2021.  Paul Harrison from Psychiatry has been chosen to lead our submission for Unit of Assessment 4 Psychology Psychiatry and Neuroscience.  Paul successfully led our submission for REF2014 when Oxford was ranked top in the UK on the overall quality of our submission, and had the highest proportion of world leading research. We scored 100% for the quality of our research and training environment. 95% of our submission was rated as world leading or internationally excellent.  That was an outstanding performance.

Some of our Neuroscience research is returned under Unit of Assessment 5 Biological Sciences which was also highly commended under REF2014. For REF2021 Unit of Assessment 5 will be led by Francis Barr from the Department of Biochemistry. 

Research Impact plays an important part of our assessment.  The Neuroscience, Psychology and Psychiatry Impact Team is currently being chaired by Charles Vincent while David Clark is on sabbatical.