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Research

Strategies, guides, priorities, opportunities and funding to support your research activities

Explore the next 10 years of OT research

Research and Innovation Strategy and action plan

Research resources 

Explore research strategies, governance, funding opportunities and networking. Read our Research and Development Strategy, ethics guidelines and top priorities. Connect through networks and cafés. Use our Research Excellence Framework to assesses research in higher education institutions across the UK. Whether you're funding your research or connecting with fellow researchers, we've got you covered.

Research governance and ethics

The following documents provide guidance and signposting to resources where more detailed information may be obtained on research governance and ethics approval.

Funding for research and development

We offer various funding opportunities such as the RCOT Research and Innovation Fund which aims to build the evidence-base for occupational therapy. Find out what's available and how to write a good proposal.

How to get funding

Research networking and information

Research Café

Research Excellence Framework

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the system for assessing research in higher education institutions (HEIs) across the four nations of the UK. 

It commenced in 2014 when it replaced the previous Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), and is undertaken through a process of expert review by those who command the confidence and respect of the academic community and wider stakeholders. 

The next REF will now be REF 2029. Results will published in December 2029

This is in recognition of the complexities for HEIs in: 

  1.   the preparation for using HESA data to determine REF volume measures 
  2.   fully breaking the link between individual staff and institutional submissions, and
  3.   reworking of institutional Codes of Practice.  

Find out more about the change in date and what this means:

Research Excellence Framework 2021