Extra REF support agreed, but no further deadline delay

Help for universities struggling during lockdown announced, although 31 March deadline stays

More mitigations have been agreed to help ease pressure on universities as they prepare for the Research Excellence Framework, although the exercise will not be delayed further.

The four funding bodies behind the REF said universities had “raised concerns” about completing the research exercise during the tightened Covid-19 restrictions put in place across the UK this month, which have also seen clinical staff called up to work on the NHS frontlines.