Research Excellence Framework Open Access Policy starts 1 April

The

ucl.ac.uk/library/open-access/ref" target="_self">open access policy for the next Research Excellence Framework (REF) begins on 1 April 2016. All journal articles and conference papers accepted after that date must be deposited in UCL Discovery, through UCL's Research Publications Service (RPS), or they will not be eligible for REF submission in 2021.

It is best practice for researchers to deposit as soon as their work is accepted for publication. Outputs not deposited within 3 months of publication cannot be submitted to the next REF.

UCL's policy is that all outputs should be deposited, including books and book chapters. The version that should be deposited is the final manuscript (after peer-review, but before the publisher's typesetting).

Full details of the policy and information on how to deposit are on UCL's open access webpages. The webpages also include FAQs about the policy requirements and about depositing, and information about the very limited exceptions to the policy.

Over the coming months, changes will be made to RPS that will further support researchers with depositing. Up to date guidance on depositing will continue to be available on the open access webpages and in RPS. Starting this month, and in readiness for 1 April, researchers will begin to see reminders to deposit their work on their RPS home page. 

UCL's Open Access Team can provide training and support, and can answer specific questions about the policy and about depositing. Contact them for more information.

Catherine Sharp, Open Access Funding Manager