Guidance and blank template

Impact case studies (REF3b)

‌‌Impact case study template (Word, 192 KB)‌

Case study checklist (Word, 65 KB)‌

Corroborating Sources Statement Template (Word, 14 KB)‌
Corroborating Sources Contact Details Template (please contact RPO to get a copy)

The Impact Case studies seek the following information:

  • Summary of the impact (indicative max 100 words)
  • Underpinning research (indicative max 500 words)
  • References to the research (indicative max 6 references)
  • Details of the impact (indicative max 750 words)
  • Sources to corroborate the impact (indicative max 10 references) - Please note that no more than 5 individuals may be included for corroborating statements and/or corroborating contact (statements are strongly recommended). Please list these sources first.

Guidance on the information required for impact case studies is available in Part 3, Section 3 of Guidance on Submission with addendum (PDF, 940 KB), and assessment criteria for impact is available in Section 3 of each of the main panel criteria statements - Part 2 of the Panel Criteria and Working Methods (PDF, 505 KB):

When asking for corroborating statements, the following HEFCE documents may be helpful:

  • REF guide (PDF, 110 KB) - an overview of REF and the impact element which was written for research users
  • REF Pro Forma - corroborative evidence (Word, 49 KB)ivil servants respond to requests for corroborative evidence statements for research submitted to the REF

Examples of Impact
(from the Panel Criteria)

Evidence of Impact
(from the Panel Criteria)

Panel A: Examples of impact (PDF, 33 KB)   Panel A: Evidence of impact (PDF, 49 KB)  
Panel B: Examples & evidence of impact (PDF, 62 KB)   Panel B: Examples & evidence of impact (PDF, 62 KB)  

Panel C: Examples of impact (PDF, 33 KB)

 Panel C: Evidence of impact (PDF, 46 KB) 
Panel D: Examples of impact (PDF, 56 KB) Panel D: Evidence of impact (PDF, 60 KB) 

The impact template is worth 80% of the unit's overall Impact score. Case studies describe specific examples of impacts achieved during the assessment period, underpinned by excellent research in the period 1 January 1993 to 31 December 2013.

Impact case studies FAQs (HEFCE website)

Impact pilot exercise (HEFCE website)

Page limits

Each completed case study template will be limited to four pages in length, with an expected maximum length limit for each section.

Format

Completed templates must adhere to the following:

  • Arial font, 11 point (minimum)
  • single line spacing (minimum)
  • 2 cm margins (minimum)

Completed templates may include formatting (bold or underlined text, headings, lists, and so on), tables and non-text content, so long as the guidance on maximum page limits and on minimum font size, line spacing and margin widths are adhered to.