What is the current funding arrangement for the Research Portion of the Block Grant?

The Research Portion of the Block Grant comprises two parts. One part is informed by the research performance of universities, and the cost of research in respective fields. The research quality of university is identified in the context of the Research Assessment Exercise which assesses the research activity of different cost centres within universities through expert review by subject panels. Another part is informed by the success of universities under the Research Grants Council (RGC) Earmarked Research Grant. Over a period of nine years (starting from the 2012/13 academic year), about 50% of the prevailing Research Portion will be allocated on a more competitive basis according to universities’ success in obtaining RGC Earmarked Research Grant. The mechanism serves as a proxy reference for the allocation of the Research Portion.