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FAQs

  • What do I need to do?

    UKRI expects all their PIs to submit outcomes information during an annual submission period. Actions required include:

    • Registration for new users (on receipt of personalised email)
    • Update Researchfish regularly (PIs can log onto the system at any time during the year)
    • Submit outcomes data at some point during the annual submission period
    • Ensure inappropriate data is not submitted as it will be published in the public domain through Gateway to Research.
  • When is the next submission period?

    The next UKRI submission period on Researchfish® is due to take place between 9am Monday 3rd February 2025 and 4pm Thursday 13th March 2025. Researchers will need to log on to Researchfish and submit their return during that time. By submitting they are confirming that their outcomes records are accurate, up to date and appropriately attributed to our grants at the time of submission.

    Outside of the submission period, Researchfish is open for researchers to enter details at any time throughout the year.

  • Does this submission period apply to all funders?

    A number of other public funders and 20 medical research charities also seek feedback from researchers via Researchfish®. The majority of these (e.g. NIHR, BHF and CRUK) bring their submission periods in line with UKRI.

    Researchfish community members

  • How and when will I be contacted?

    Emails from UKRI and/or Researchfish® will be sent to the email address for each PI that is listed in Je-S, starting in early January 2023. Please be sure to check your email; if you do not receive a communication you are expecting, let us know.

  • Will a sanctions policy be applied?

    It is now a condition of receiving funding from Research Councils that the principal investigator (PI) completes Researchfish®. Investigators are asked to complete Researchfish® each year during the award and for a number of years after the award has finished. Failure to complete Researchfish® can result in sanctions for PIs until such time as they provide feedback on their outputs.

    For more information visit the Compliance and sanctions policy on reporting research outcomes.

  • Is it mandatory that I submit outcomes for my grant?

    Yes. If the required annual update for an award is not submitted on time, the Research Council may apply the following sanctions: the researcher may be unable to apply (either as a Principal Investigator or as a Co-Investigator) for further awards from any Research Council OR if the award is still current, payments for the award may be withheld, until such time as the PI becomes compliant.

    For more information visit the Compliance and sanctions policy on reporting research outcomes.

  • What data needs to be returned?

    The Common Question Set

    A Common Question Set has been agreed across all the Researchfish® Funders. You will be asked to provide data on a range of outcomes including: Publications, Collaborations, Engagement activities etc.  A full list of the common questions is available from Researchfish®.

    Funder specific question sets

    Each individual council has a number of specific questions that must be completed prior to the submission for each grant. Unlike the common question set your funder may stipulate that these questions are mandatory. If there is no information to submit for these sections, use “not applicable this year”.

    Before submission

    • Ensure that outcomes are properly attributed to awards.
    • Check that the information to be submitted is NOT sensitive or confidential.
    • Data provided to Researchfish should be as complete as possible, accurate and non-confidential
  • Can someone enter outputs and submit on my behalf?

    Only a PI can submit the outcomes for their award, but others can be given access to add outcomes on behalf of the PI.

    There are two types of access a PI can grant:

    1. Delegate access: a PI can grant another person (eg administrator or assistant) access to all their awards. The delegate will have the same functions as the PI, with the exception being able to submit. Researchfish® provide a step-by-step guide on adding a delegate.
    2. Research team access: a PI can grant another person (eg co-investigator or research assistant) access to a particular award. A research team member can view all outputs associated with an award and can re-use outputs in their own portfolios, as well as attributing outputs from their own portfolio into the PI’s award. A team member can only edit and remove outputs that they have entered.  Researchfish® provide a step-by-step guide on adding a collaborator or team member.
  • Do I need to submit outcomes for a grant that ended several years ago?

    Researchers are asked to provide updates annually during the period of the awards and usually for five years after their awards have finished.

    Where there are no new outcomes to submit, you can indicate this by adding “not applicable this year” as an answer to the mandatory questions, and clicking the submit button in the usual manner.

    Researchers also have the opportunity to discuss with UKRI when they feel that no further outcomes will arise from an award and request that the award is ‘closed’ in Researchfish®. If you think this is the case, please get in touch.

  • What do I do if I do not have any outcomes to report?

    Where there are no new outcomes to submit, you can indicate this by adding “not applicable this year” as an answer to the mandatory questions, and clicking the submit button in the usual manner.

    Researchers also have the opportunity to discuss with UKRI when they feel that no further outcomes will arise from an award and request that the award is ‘closed’ in Researchfish®. If you think this is the case, please get in touch.

  • Should PhD students submit outcomes for their studentships?

    UKRI has traditionally asked for a submission of research outcomes from holders of doctoral studentships from the third year of their studentship, and for three years after it ends.  For the 2024 Research Outcomes submission period, UKRI are pausing the collection of studentship data and will not be adding any new students to Researchfish.

    Any studentships already on Researchfish will remain on the system for the usual duration and UKRI welcome the submission of any new outcomes on a non-mandatory basis.

  • What should I do if I am no longer at Ulster University or am on a period of extended (e.g. maternity) leave?

    Research Organisations have a responsibility to confirm annually with the Research Councils which grants are expected to complete an annual outcomes submission and for ensuring compliance of grant holders at their organisation. If there are reasons why this is not possible or appropriate, we are able to flag an award accordingly. Please contact researchfish@ulster.ac.uk if you think this applies to you.

  • What should I do if I can’t see one of my awards?

    Your award is linked to your Researchfish® account using the link within an invitation email sent by your Funder. To successfully access your account and see your award you must use this link.

    Awards are added to Researchfish® when your Funding Organisation supplies them with the required information. Depending how frequently your Funding Organisation supplies this information, a new award may not appear in the system immediately. Alternatively, your award may be listed against a different individual (e.g. a previous PI).

    If the details relating to an award/grant associated with your account are incorrect, you should contact your funder in the first instance as Researchfish® are unable to change award details. You can contact your funder through the Researchfish website.

    If you have technical issues with the Researchfish® system, please contact support@researchfish.com.

    If you have queries about reporting your research outcomes, please contact researchoutcomes@funding.ukri.org or get in touch with a member of Ulster's Researchfish team.

  • What happens to my data?

    UKRI wants to exploit the outcomes data information fully and share with others, in order to convey the quality and impact of the UK research base. Outcomes information from Researchfish® is published via the UKRI Gateway to Research.

    For more information read UKRI's GtR Data Explained.

  • Where can I find further information?