The REF Open Access Policy only applies to:
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Journal articles and conference proceedings papers that are
- Published in a publication with an ISSN and are
-
Published from 1 January 2021
Complying with the REF Open Access Policy
Complying with the Policy is easy - all you need to do is:
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Upload your accepted manuscript within 3 months of acceptance. Please include the acceptance date and publication date (if applicable).
Please upload your accepted manuscript, even if more than 3 months have elapsed. We may be able to find a way to make your paper compliant.
What happens after you upload your accepted manuscript
We will deposit your paper in the University's repository, Apollo, once you upload it. There may be cases where it is not possible to deposit, for example, if the publisher does not allow it. If this is the case, a member of the Open Access Team will discuss this with you. We will also provide advice about funder requirements and payment options where relevant.
Publishing Open Access or in a Preprint Server?
You should still deposit your accepted manuscript within 3 months of acceptance.
This helps the University log, report and audit REF compliance. We can also provide timely support and advice.
REF Support
We are available to provide REF briefings to departments. The briefings can be single sessions or as part of existing meetings such as departmental meetings.
REF reports are available in the reporting hub in Symplectic Elements (“Elements”). The reports summarise the information that Elements holds on research outputs. They also provide a compliance indicator and flag required actions. There is a guide on the reports on the Research Information SharePoint.
Please contact us if you have any questions about REF or the REF reports, or to arrange a REF briefing.
Changes to the REF Open Access Policy
Research England is reviewing REF. It is likely that the Open Access Policy will change during the current REF period, with the changes taking effect no earlier than January 2026. We will communicate the changes and update these pages as soon as we know more. You can also find more information about REF on the University of Cambridge REF2029 Sharepoint Site.