Copyright in materials and information held on the REF web-site and requests to re-use information

The copyright in the text and layout of the pages of the REF web-site is held either by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) or by the originating authors.

The copyright and database right in the materials, data, reports and publications available for download or viewing from the REF web-site are held by the organisation named as the copyright or database right owner in or on such publication – this will often be the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) but, exceptionally,  it may evidently be different originating authors or publishers. REF Impact case studies are owned by the higher education institution that has submitted the case study.

Images used on our web-site and in our publications are usually sourced from commercial picture agencies or external suppliers and their use generally limited to use on the REF web-site. Accordingly they should not be copied or used except where a licence has been granted to you by the relevant copyright owner or, if applicable, otherwise permitted by law.

Unless otherwise stated, the text of the pages of the REF web-site and the text of REF-branded publications and reports may, save in relation to elements credited to third parties, be copied or reproduced provided that the source is acknowledged, the text is not altered  and it is not used, wholly or in part, for commercial gain. Use for commercial gain requires the prior written permission of the copyright holders.

Should you wish to re-use information which is owned by HEFCE then you may be able to do so in accordance with the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2015. Please submit your request in writing, provide your name and an address for correspondence, specify the document and/or information requested and state the purpose for which, and how, the information is to be re-used. Requests should be sent to foi@hefce.ac.uk.

Should you wish to re-use information which is owned by a third party please contact the third party for permission.

If you ask us for information and are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to appeal against our decision.