About the HERDC
The Higher Education Research Data Collection (HERDC) comprises of research income and research publications data submitted by universities each year. Each year, the department updates the HERDC specifications in consultation with universities and other relevant stakeholders. The HERDC specifications control the collection of higher education research data and are designed to ensure the Australian Government’s research block grants are allocated in a fair and transparent way and to support the policy intent of the funding.
Data collected will be used, along with data from the Higher Education Student Data Collection, for determining allocations to universities for the following programs:
Note: The JRE replaced the Institutional Grants Scheme (IGS) from 2010.
2012 HERDC SmartForms
The 2012 HERDC SmartForms for the reporting of 2011 research income and publications are now available. Returns are due by 30 June 2012.
2012 HERDC Specifications
The 2012 HERDC Specifications [ 
PDF 304KB] [ 
RTF 1.88MB] are available .
The department finalised the 2012 specifications taking into account a range of comments from individual universities and from state audit offices. The specifications were also reviewed by Universities Australia (via its Pro and Deputy Vice-Chancellors (Research) (P-DVC-R) Committee), with Universities Australia endorsing the 2012 specifications on 31 January 2012.
Review of Industry and Other (Category 3), and Joint Research Engagement (JRE) Scheme
The review commenced in July and was finalised in November 2011. Further information on the Category 3 and Joint Research Engagement Scheme review is available.
Extension of HERDC Transitional Arrangements
Universities should note that the Minister has now extended the transitional arrangements regarding employment (and other) arrangements between universities and affiliates under the HERDC until 30 June 2011.
The Minister’s decision is in recognition of the nature and complexity of the formal arrangements that some universities are implementing with researchers in affiliated institutions.
Contact
For more information, please email: RBGrants@innovation.gov.au with "HERDC" as the subject line.
Historical Information - HERDC Specifications
2011 HERDC Specifications
The department finalised the specifications taking into account a range of comments from individual universities. The specifications were also reviewed by Universities Australia (via its Pro and Deputy Vice-Chancellors (Research) (P-DVC-R) Committee) and Universities Australia has endorsed the specifications.
2011 HERDC Workshop
The department hosted a workshop on Monday 28 February 2011. More than one hundred representatives from universities, and relevant external auditors responsible for undertaking the independent audit of the annual HERDC return attended.
The workshop provided clarification and guidance in an open forum to ensure a common application and understanding by the Commonwealth, universities and independent auditors of the 2011 HERDC specifications.
A summary of workshop proceedings is available [PDF 44KB] [RTF 428KB]
Workshop presentations are now available:
- Overview of the 2011 HERDC Specifications [PDF 108KB]
- Key changes to research income [PDF 150KB]
- Key changes to research publications [PDF 103KB]
- HERDC work agenda for 2011 [PDF 99KB]
Note: If you are having difficulty accessing these files in PDF format please contact RBGrants@innovation.gov.au.
Research income flow charts to determine the treatment of income under HERDC are available:
2010 HERDC Specifications
- 2010 Higher Education Data Collection Specifications for the collection of 2009 data [PDF 331KB] [RTF 1.4 MB]
Workshop: 2010 HERDC Specifications and university relationships with affiliated research organisations
On June 2010, the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (DIISR) held a workshop regarding the interpretation of the 2010 HERDC Specifications [PDF 331KB]
The following clarifications were provided at the workshop:
1. Income resulting from employment arrangements which are eligible for reporting in the HERDC are those under which the university pays the salary (or a proportion of) directly to that researcher.
2. These employment arrangements must be bona fide employment relationships, and they exclude research income being handled via cost reimbursement arrangements (i.e. to reimburse research costs, including researcher salaries) which are not explicitly covered within a formal legal relationship between the university and the external research organisation.
2010 HERDC Specifications - Frequently Asked Questions
In January 2010, DIISR released the 2010 HERDC Specifications to the higher education sector. In response to queries regarding changes to the HERDC specifications, the department developed some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) [PDF 36KB].
During 2010, DIISR also worked with the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to produce a fact sheet on Australian Government infrastructure funding support for research conducted in universities, hospitals and medical research institutes [PDF 101KB].
2009 Specifications
2008 Specifications
- 2008 Higher Education Data Collection Specifications for the collection of 2007 data [PDF 392.3KB] [RTF 1.1MB]
2007 Specifications
- 2007 Higher Education Data Collection Specifications for the collection of 2006 data [PDF 169.7KB] [RTF 1.3MB]
HERDC – Technical Advice about the Collection
Technical Advice regarding the data collection includes the following information:
- Calculation Of Chapter Values For An Author
- Closed – Register of Refereed Journals
- Closed – Register of Commercial Publishers