Open Access & Institutional Repository: REF 2029 & open access

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the UK’s system for assessing the excellence of research in UK higher education providers. The next assessment will be REF 2029. The previous REF was REF 2021.

The REF 2029 Open Access policy was published on 11th December 2024 and is available at the following link: https://2029.ref.ac.uk/guidance/ref-2029-open-access-policy/

All output types (excluding theses) that were first published* between  01 January 2021 and 31 December 2028 are eligible for submission to REF but some output types will have to comply with the open access policy. These are: 

• Journal articles and conference contributions that have an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) with a University of Southampton Affiliation. This includes articles that do not require peer review 

• Pre-reviewed articles published through open publication platforms will meet open access requirements by default. Examples of this include, but are not limited to, F1000Research, Wellcome Open Research and eLife. 

*First published means the first online date or epub date or first date made publicly available. 

Differences from REF 2021 

• Any University of Southampton author’s work may be submitted if the output is eligible – in REF 2021 only staff with a research contract were eligible.
• Shorter embargo periods.

• Outputs authored whilst working at other institutions cannot be included in our institutional REF, articles must be authored at and affiliated to the University of Southampton to be included. 

REF 2029 - How to be compliant

• Articles and eligible conference papers published open access with the publisher will be considered to meet the REF 2029 open access requirements. Authors must create a basic record in PURE as soon as possible but do not need to upload the full text.
• Articles and eligible conference papers that are not open access with the publisher must:
  • Create a basic record in PURE at the point your journal article is accepted (this has to be done within 3 months of acceptance unless an exception applies)
  • Include the DOI if known
  • Upload your Accepted Manuscript (AM) or send a copy of the AM with a link to your PURE record to eprints@soton.ac.uk

Please contact the Open Research & Publication Practice Team at eprints@soton.ac.uk if you have any questions

For more information on REF 2029 please see the University of Southampton REF 2029 Sharepoint.