Timeline
| Spring 2018 | Panels meet to develop criteria. |
| Summer 2018 | Consultation on the panel criteria and working methods. |
| January 2019 | Final "Guidance on submissions" and "Panel criteria and working methods" published. |
| 2019 | Complete preparation of submission systems. |
| Spring 2019 | Deadline for institutions to submit Codes of Practice. |
| November 2019 |
The College works on initial assessments of research independence and checking of staff lists. Internal review of Impact Case Studies. |
| December 2019 |
Survey of institurions' submission intentions submitted to Research England. The College research-only staff are notified by HoDs of their REF specific research independence. |
| December 2019 - January 2020 |
Staff can appeal research independence decisions and submit special circumstances. These will be considered by HoDs in the first instance and then the REF Equality Committee. Appeals process for research independence closes on 31 January. The internal deadline to confidentially optionally disclose special circumstances is 31 January 2020. |
| January 2020 |
Second round of internal Impact Case Studies review. Departments are provided with draft institutional environment statement. |
| March 2020 |
Full list of likely outputs for submission are prepared by the beginning of March 2020. Lists of likely impact case studies are finalised by the Faculties by end of March 2020. |
| March, April and May 2020 | UoAs' environment templates are drafted. |
| June and July 2020 | Environment templates are reviewed. |
| Mid 2020 | Nominations and appointment of further panel members for assessment phase. |
| August 2020 |
The College conducts a second round of independence assessment, after the census date (i.e. 31 July 2020). Deadline for final output selection. |
| November 2020 | Submission deadline is 27 November 2020. |
| 2021 | Panels assess submissions. |
| December 2021 | Publication of outcomes. |
| Outputs | First brought into the public domain between 01/01/2014 and 31/12/2020 |
| Impact | The assessment period for impact will be from 1/08/2013 to 31/07/2020 |
| Impact | Underpinning research first published between 1/01/2000 and 31/12/2020 |
| Environment | The assessment period for research income (assessed as part of the environment section) is from 1/08/2013 to 31/07/2020 |
| Staff | The census date for staff will be 31/07/2020 |