Resources and publications – PBRF
Resources and publications – PBRF
This page provides a list of Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) publications, guidelines and other resources.
This page provides a list of Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) publications, guidelines and other resources.
These include:
- Quality Evaluation 2026 publications
- guidelines
- user manuals
- technical specifications
- annual reports and performance information
- reporting External Research Income (ERI)
- measuring Research Degree Completions information
- older resources.
Quality Evaluation 2026 publications
Quality Evaluation 2026 will not take place. These are the Guidelines for Quality Evaluation 2026 which were approved by the TEC Board and published on 30 November 2023.
- PBRF Guidelines for tertiary education organisations participating in Quality Evaluation 2026 (PDF 2.8 MB)
- PBRF Guidelines for the Quality Evaluation 2026 assessment process (PDF 2 MB)
Other Quality Evaluation 2026 publications
- Audit Methodology for PBRF Quality Evaluation 2026 (PDF 371 KB)
- Summary of TEC’s in-principle decisions (PDF 594 KB)
- Quality Evaluation 2026 FAQs (updated 2 August 2021) (PDF 675 KB)
For Sector Reference Group (SRG) consultation papers, see SRG consultation papers 2026.
For Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) consultation papers, see TEC consultation papers 2026.
User manuals
- PBRF User Manual (PDF 880 KB) (updated June 2024)
A comprehensive guide to the PBRF as a whole. Outlines key components of the PBRF, the purpose and drivers of the fund and information to help tertiary education organisations to respond to the data requirements of the PBRF.
Performance allocations and annual reports
Performance allocations
- 2022 PBRF performance allocations (PDF 296 KB)
- 2021 PBRF performance allocations (PDF 370 KB)
- 2020 PBRF performance allocations (PDF 349 KB)
- 2019 PBRF performance allocations (PDF 902 KB)
- 2018 PBRF performance allocations (PDF 714 KB)
- 2017 PBRF performance allocations (PDF 763 KB)
- 2016 PBRF performance allocations (PDF 645 KB)
- 2015 PBRF performance allocations (PDF 306 KB)
- 2014 PBRF performance allocations (PDF 201 KB)
- 2013 PBRF performance allocations (PDF 301 KB)
Annual reports
- 2012 PBRF Annual Report (PDF 576 KB)
- 2011 PBRF Annual Report (PDF 827 KB)
- 2010 PBRF Annual Report (PDF 1.3 MB)
- 2009 PBRF Annual Report (PDF 500 KB)
- 2008 PBRF Annual Report (PDF 242 KB)
Reporting External Research Income (ERI)
- Guidance on completing ERI returns can be found in the PBRF User Manual (PDF 880 KB) (updated June 2024).
Research Degree Completions Business Rules
Older resources
Quality Evaluation 2018
- Guidelines for tertiary education organisations participating in the 2018 Quality Evaluation (PDF 2.3 MB) (updated June 2018)
This document provides information that tertiary education organisations (TEOs) need to determine staff eligibility, complete Evidence Portfolios, understand and participate in the TEC audit process, and understand the reporting of results. It also provides information about other related processes, such as submitting conflict of interest notices and complaints to the TEC. - Guidelines for the 2018 Quality Evaluation assessment process (PDF 2.2 MB)
This document provides information about the assessment process undertaken by the 13 peer review panels. This includes information on the responsibilities of the panel, the scoring system and detailed scoring descriptors for Evidence Portfolios, the stages in the assessment process, the moderation process, and information about conflicts of interest and confidentiality. - A guide for staff members participating in the 2018 Quality Evaluation (PDF 1.4 MB)
This document provides staff members with an overview of the process, their responsibilities and the responsibilities of their employing TEOs and the TEC. It also identifies the key areas of the Quality Evaluation process that relate to them and who can provide support. The guide is designed to be an overview of the process and directs staff members to the relevant areas of the other guidelines. - Panel-specific guidelines for the 2018 Quality Evaluation (PDF 1.6 MB) (updated April 2018)
This document provides subject-specific advice to support TEOs and their staff members to develop and submit Evidence Portfolios. The panel-specific guidelines are supplementary to, and must be read in conjunction with, the guidelines listed above.
Quality Evaluation 2012
- 2012 PBRF Quality Evaluation Guidelines (PDF 1.1 MB) (updated May 2013)
An overview of the Quality Evaluation process, including eligibility criteria; submission, assignment and assessment of Evidence Portfolios (EPs); Panels, Expert Advisory Groups (EAGs), and audit and complaint processes.
Quality Evaluation 2006
- 2006 PBRF Guidelines (PDF 2.1 MB)
These guidelines were prepared to help participants in the 2006 processes for the PBRF.
Other historical resources and publications relating to earlier PBRF cycles have been archived. They can be requested by emailing pbrfhelp@tec.govt.nz.