The research assessment exercise cost the Higher Education Funding Council for England £2 million in extra administration costs, according to accounts published last week.
Running costs shot up by more than a fifth to £16 million. Fees and expenses for committee members and advisers quadrupled to £2.5 million in the financial year ended March 31. A Hefce spokesman blamed the RAE for much of the rise.
Despite this, Hefce reported a surplus of almost £65 million. Hefce said the surplus was "distorted" because the government's introduction of resource accounting had reclassified some commitments as long-term liabilities. In light of this, the surplus was £18 million.