Data Management Expectations
University and research funders expectations and the support available to help you meet them.
New Policies
The UKRI has recently published its new research data policy, which provides a high-level framework of good practice expectations applicable to most research contexts.
The policy applies to in-scope funding opportunities launched on or after 1 April 2027. For any funding opportunities launched before 1 April 2027 and awards arising from them, please follow current research data guidance and research council-specific policies.
In the meantime, colleagues in Library Research Services are working to update Newcastle University's research data policy, our guidance and the support we provide, accordingly. If you are concerned about upcoming changes, or you have urgent questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at lrs@ncl.ac.uk.
RDM Policy and Code of Good Practice
The University's Research Data Management Policy Principles & Code of Good Practice outlines the expectations that the University and research funders have from researchers. It also describes support available to researchers to meet those expectations.
There are related research policies that may be useful.
Data Access Statement expectations
"Be as open as possible, and as closed as necessary"!
All funders expect you to share research data that underpin your findings, if it is appropriate to do so. Your publication should contain a clear data access statement which clearly describes the following:
- whether such data exist.
- if data can be openly accessed and how.
- whether there is a formal requesting process, or certain conditions of access.
- in case data cannot be shared, why.
A data access statement should be clear and honest. Find more information about data access statements, including examples.
Research Funders
The majority of research funders have introduced policies on research data. The main expectation is that publicly funded research data are a public good, should be managed appropriately and made openly available with as few restrictions as possible. If you’d like additional information about a funder, even if they are not listed, please contact the RDS.
The Concordat on Open Research Data is a set of expectations of best practice developed by the research community itself. It sets a series of clear and practical principles for working with research data.
