Open Access (draft 20230606): Understanding RGC Categories

Understanding RGC Categories

The Research Grants Council (RGC) classifies all research output for annual submission into 6 broad categories. The 6 categories are further divided into 28 subcategories and are grouped together into 4 types, from A to D.

The following groupings illustrate how RGC categorizes all research output and activities:

6 Categories:

(1)  Scholarly books, monographs and chapters

Subcategory numbers Subcategory names Types 11 Research book or monograph (author) A: Academic research (refereed) 12 Chapter in an edited book (author) A: Academic research (refereed) 13 Textbook A: Academic research (refereed) 14 Edited (editor) A: Academic research (refereed)

(2)  Journal publications

Subcategory numbers Subcategory names Types 21 Publication in refereed journal A: Academic research (refereed) 22 Publication in policy or professional journal B: Academic research (not refereed)

(3)  Conference papers

Subcategory numbers Subcategory names Types 31A Invited conference paper (refereed items) A: Academic research (refereed) 31B Invited conference paper (non-refereed items) B: Academic research (not refereed) 32 Refereed conference paper A: Academic research (refereed) 33 Other conference paper B: Academic research (not refereed)

(4)  Creative and literary works, consulting reports and case studies

Subcategory numbers Subcategory names Types 41 Authored play, poem, novel, story D: Other outputs 42 Painting, sculpture, drawing, photograph D: Other outputs 43 Film, video D: Other outputs 44 Performance and participation in exhibits D: Other outputs 45 Translation of other's work D: Other outputs 46 Engineering, architectural, graphic designs D: Other outputs 47 Computer software or system D: Other outputs 48 Consulting or contract research system C: Contract research 49 Written teaching case study or extensive note D: Other outputs

(5)  Patents, agreements, assignments and companies

Subcategory numbers Subcategory names Types 51 Patents granted A: Academic research (refereed) 52 Licensing agreements D: Other outputs 53 Assignments of intellectual property rights D: Other outputs 54 Companies D: Other outputs

(6)  All other outputs

Subcategory numbers Subcategory names Types 61 Journal editor D: Other outputs 62 Review of books or of software D: Other outputs 63 Postgraduate research theses D: Other outputs 64 Other outputs 64A Other Outputs 64B Prizes and awards D: Other outputs

Quick Tips

• There are different templates for all the RGC subcategories for you to choose from when creating your research output records in CityU Scholars. See the Inputting Records under RGC Categories Guide to find out more details


• Visit the Research Grants and Contracts Office (RO) at www.cityu.edu.hk/ro for more details on:
  • Submission to RGC
  • RGC Research Output categories & definitions