Direct comparison
Rae Vs Ref: Key Differences & Comparison | CASRAI
The RAE and the REF are the UK's successive national research-assessment exercises. The RAE ran from 1986 to 2008; the REF replaced it from 2014, introducing the formal assessment of research impact as its headline change.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | RAE | REF |
|---|---|---|
| Period | Ran 1986–2008 (several rounds; last exercise 2008) | From 2014 — REF 2014, REF 2021, next REF 2029 |
| Full name | Research Assessment Exercise | Research Excellence Framework |
| Name-change rationale | The established model up to 2008 | Renamed in 2014 to signal a broadened, impact-inclusive scope |
| Impact assessed? | No formal Impact element | Yes — Impact introduced as a weighted element in REF 2014 |
| Metrics use | Primarily expert peer review of outputs | Peer review led; metrics used as informative, not decisive |
| Peer-review basis | Subject panels reviewing submitted research | Expert sub-panels reviewing Units of Assessment |
| Assessment elements | Centred on research outputs and environment indicators | Outputs, Impact, and Environment (60/25/15 in REF 2021) |
| Star ratings | Introduced a star-style quality profile in RAE 2008 | Continued the 4*/3*/2*/1*/unclassified quality scale |
| Frequency | Periodic rounds over more than two decades | Periodic cycles (2014, 2021, 2029) |
Common questions
FAQ
When did the RAE become the REF?+
The Research Assessment Exercise last ran in 2008, and the Research Excellence Framework first ran in 2014, replacing it. The change of name in 2014 reflected a change of substance — most notably the addition of a formal Impact element to the assessment.
What was the biggest difference the REF introduced?+
The headline addition was Impact: the REF formally assesses the demonstrable effects of research beyond academia — on the economy, society, policy, culture, health, or the environment — through impact case studies. The RAE had not assessed impact in this structured, weighted way, so its introduction in REF 2014 was the defining change.
Do both exercises rely on peer review?+
Yes — both the RAE and the REF are fundamentally based on expert peer review, with academics and (in the REF) research users assessing submissions organised into subject-based units. Metrics inform the REF but do not replace the panel-based judgement at its core.
Going deeper
