​​​​​​A survey is done annually to record the research activities of the previous output year. Only research activities or achievements that are the result of original research are reported. The survey serves two purposes, the first is to measure research outputs for subsidy purposes according to the Department of  Higher Education & Training's (DHET) policy while the second is to gather information for the annual research report. Find here the Notice and Internal Guidelines​​ for submission of research outputs for subsidy as well as for reporting purposes.

Books and conference proceedings, with the purpose of disseminating original research and new developments within specific disciplines, sub-disciplines or fields of study, can be submitted for subsidy purposes. Evidence of peer review is a fundamental prerequisite and hard copies of the publications have to be provided as well. In the case of books and/or chapters in books, each hard copy of the book should be accompanied by a statement from the publishers, indicating that a process of peer review prior to publication was followed. A justification/motivation from the editor/author whereby certain aspects such as the target audience, unique contribution of the publication towards existing knowledge in the field as well as a declaration that no plagiarism was committed, are addressed, is needed. If the target market is not set out in the book, hand in a motivation clarifying the target market.

Research articles in accredited journals also qualify for subsidy. Correspondence to the editors, abstracts or extended abstracts, obituaries, book reviews, news articles and advertorials are excluded. In the case of international journals, requests for inclusion in the lists of accredited journals have to be directed to the relevant indices (e.g. Web of Science, Scopus, etc.).  South African Journals that meet the criteria of the DHET may be proposed for inclusion and this process is administered by the DHET.

An incentive scheme by means of the Special Support Scheme (SSS) is used to encourage researchers to publish their research activities according to the official policy of the Department of Higher Education & Training for the subsidising of research publications.

Since 2018 the respective subcommittees of the research committee have decided to pay SOS funds only for DHET-approved units. The SOS funds is therefore payable into the respective S-accounts after the university had received feedback from the DHET the year after the survey. Researchers now have the option of appealing the verdict of the DHET panels. One of the conditions of the appeal is if the verdict was based on the content of the publication, and not if technical requirements t were not met. Please see the full set of guidelines for appeal, here. This document outlines the process and procedure for processing appeals for research publications that had not been approved for subsidy allocation in terms of the policy.