Consolidated TRAC guidance

A set of consolidated TRAC guidance was issued to the sector in June 2005, along with a covering letter from the Chair of the JCPSG. The consolidated guidance brings together all of the guidance previously set out in TRAC volumes I and II, and also integrates TRAC volume III (full economic costing) and all of the updates issued throughout 2004. The set consists of the following:

An Overview of TRAC for senior managers and academics, this provides a non-technical introduction to TRAC, and a summary of the main features. (Please note, that the latest policy overview of TRAC has now superseded this document.)

Consolidated technical guidance, which consolidates the technical guidance issued in TRAC Volumes I-III and subsequent updates. It contains a search facility, links and drill -down features to help users find what they need. (Please note the consolidated guidance is now supplemented by the Statement of Requirements which was first issued by the TRAC Development Group in April 2009 and is updated quarterly to provide a comprehensive statement of the minimum requirements for all aspects of TRAC.)

The latest updates to the TRAC guidance approved by the TRAC Development Group are provided under Revisions to TRAC guidance.
Update to TRAC guidance December 2008 - update on time allocation definitions and requirements for reasonableness checks - issued under covering 'letter from the Chair of the Financial Sustainability Strategy Group (FSSG)' dated 1 December 2008.
Updates to TRAC Guidance November 2008 - Guidance updates to Annex 16: Income Guidance Funding Council grants revised. New reporting template 2007-08. TRAC peer groups for benchmarking of 2007-08 data.
Updates to TRAC Guidance October 2007 - Guidance update and Frequently Asked Questions on Research Facilities and laboratory technicians.
Updates to TRAC Guidance August 2007 - Guidance updates and clarifications, including Research Facilities and RCUK Quality Assurance and Validation (QAV) process - approved by BUFDG Costing and Pricing Group and Funding Councils.
Updates to TRAC Guidance April 2007 - TRAC compliance requirements and worked examples - approved by BUFDG Costing and Pricing Group and Funding Councils.
Updated TRAC Guidance July 2006 approved by the BUFDG Costing and Pricing Group and Funding Councils.

Information about the recommendations for changes to the guidance and other issues considered by the group can be downloaded here:

BUFDG TRAC Guidance Review (June 2006)

The HEFCE, advised by the TRAC(T) Steering Group has approved draft guidance for costing teaching (TRAC(T)). This guidance has been developed for England and Northern Ireland only at this stage.

TRAC(T) Guidance for HEIs in England and Northern Ireland (September 2006)

A Helpdesk to support HEIs in England and Northern Ireland in implementing the TRAC(T) requirements will be provided by JM Consulting. Technical enquiries regarding annual TRAC and TRAC fEC should continue to be addressed to the usual contacts at the Funding Councils, not to JM Consulting.

The TRAC for Teaching Steering Group has overseen the development of an advice note on Course Costing in HEIs.

Past guidance

While the consolidated guidance supersedes TRAC Volumes I-III and subsequent updates, you may still access these manuals through Key Publications and past guidance in the Resources and Support section of this website.