The Hidden REF Competition

The Hidden REF Competition celebrates all research outputs and everyone involved in their creation. The competition recognises a range of outputs that are not traditionally submitted to the REF and also people who work in a range of roles that are vital to research but overlooked by traditional research organisations.

This year’s competition includes 25 categories, which have been collected from community suggestions made since 2020.

Submissions will be judged by panels of experts drawn from across the research community as described by our submission and review process. In a change from previous years, our panellists will use their interpretation of the REF guidelines on originality, significance and rigour to assess outputs. This will provide the community with an invaluable opportunity to practice writing NTO submissions that could be submitted to the REF.

By taking part in the competition, you will help celebrate the full diversity of outputs that drive research forward. You will help recognise the many roles that are vital to research but overlooked by research organisations, You will also help us build evidence about assessing outputs and develop a better understanding of inclusive approaches to research recognition.

Full information is below but if you have any questions, please take a look at our FAQs or get in touch.

Deadlines

• 24 March – 5 May: Call for category suggestions and changes
• 26 May: Final categories and submissions rules announced
• 26 May: Submissions open
• 13 September: Submissions deadline
• November (date tbc): Awards ceremony, results announced!

How to enter the competition

To take part in the Hidden REF Competition:

• Review the output categories and Hidden Roles to help you understand what or who you wish to submit to the competition
• For submission to the Hidden Role category, you will supply a description of the person or role and their contribution to research (900 words max)
• For submission of an output, you will supply:
  • A summary of the output (300 words max)
  • Descriptions of how the output meets the criteria of originality, significance and rigour (300-word max for each)
• To help write your submission, you can use our Hidden REF Competition 2026 submission template
• When you’re ready – Enter your submission!

Who can enter the competition?

Almost anyone! You are eligible regardless of your specific role. If you’ve contributed to research and are associated with a research output or a role that contributes to research. It does not matter if you have no history of submitting to the REF or if your organisation is not returnable to the REF.

You must work in a research organisation based in the UK or have a formal affiliation with such an organisation. We would love to open the competition to international entries, but this would overwhelm our small team. If you are interested in running a Hidden REF competition in your own country, then please get in touch.

Past competitions

You can also see the results from 2021 competition and 2024 competition.