Research that was rated 2*, of “internationally recognised quality”, will no longer receive any quality-related funding (QR) from the Higher Education Funding Council for England starting in the 2012-13 academic year, the funding council announced on 2 February.

In a letter to all English universities setting out funding for the 2011-12 academic year, HEFCE said the decision was a result of the government’s “clear implication” in its December grant letter to the funder that funding should be focused on internationally excellent (3*) and world-leading (4*) research.

In 2011-12, the funding ratio for 2*, 3*, and 4* research will be 0.294:3:9. This ratio has been getting progressively steeper over the past three years, as the government seeks to concentrate funding on the highest quality work. In 2009 the ratio was 1:3:7, in 2010 it was 1:3:9 (See Excellent research guaranteed cash).

The total pot for QR funding in 2011-12 is £1.55 billion, £45 million less than in 2010-11. It will be taken from the roughly £115m that went to 2* work in 2010-11. And half of the roughly £70m remaining for 2* work will be redirected to 3* and 4* work.