Vitae RDF conditions of use

• ensure all users benefit from the collaborative and rigorous approach to development by protecting the integrity of the Vitae RDS and RDF in their totality and the RDF Materials
• ensure that the RDF and the RDF Materials remain consistent and transferable so that researchers can use them throughout their development
• support the implementation of the RDF through a process which  enables the RDF to be adapted with Vitae permission to meet specific requirements
• protect the RDS, RDF and the RDF Materials from inappropriate use

The RDS (ISBN 978-1-906774-19-6) may be copied and reproduced, in any medium, strictly for non-commercial training and development purposes, provided that in all cases:

1. the original source is acknowledged as the ‘Vitae Researcher Development Statement’
2. the following copyright statement is retained on the RDS ‘Vitae, © 2010 Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC) Limited’
3. where possible, the following link is provided ‘www.vitae.ac.uk/rdf’

The RDF (ISBN 978-1-906774-18-9), which includes the domains, sub-domains and descriptors, and the RDF graphics and the RDF Materials may be copied and reproduced, in any medium strictly for non-commercial training and development purposes within the higher education sector, provided that in all cases:

1. the original source is acknowledged as the ‘Vitae Researcher Development Framework’
2. the following copyright statement is retained on the RDF and all the RDF Materials ‘Vitae, © 2010 Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC) Limited’
3. where possible, the following link is provided ‘www.vitae.ac.uk/rdf’

The RDF, RDS and the RDF Materials may only be modified, adapted, translated or have derivative works created from, upon the purchase of an appropriate RDF licence. For these purposes please email

Vitae also provides access to additional materials associated with the RDF, including but not limited to Power Point presentations, training and development materials, information sheets, action and evidence example sheets and benchmarking activities. These are available for RDF Planner subscribers and Vitae members. To subscribe to the RDF planner, please contact us.

If the RDF, RDS and the RDF Materials are required for any purpose outside the permission contained in these terms including but not limited to (a) distribution or communication to the public (b) any commercial use, including use for-profit, for commercial advantage or for cost-recovery (c) use outside of the higher education sector in a manner not set out above, please contact or write to the following address:

Vitae, c/o CRAC
22 Signet Court
Cambridge
CB5 8LA

Intellectual Property Rights

All rights in the RDF, RDS, RDF graphics and the RDF Materials shall remain with CRAC and, save as expressly set out in these terms or as permitted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (or equivalent provisions under the laws of copyright in force in other countries), are reserved. The copyright and any other intellectual property rights in any adaptations or resulting from any use of the RDF, RDS and the RDF Materials shall belong to and shall be assigned (by way of present assignment of future rights) to CRAC.

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the Vitae Researcher Development Framework, Researcher Development Statement and the RDF Materials are accurate and complete, CRAC is not responsible for any errors or omissions, factual or otherwise, and does not accept any liability arising out of any reliance placed on the information contained within these materials.

CRAC may revise these conditions of use from time to time.  Revised conditions of use will apply to the use of the RDF, RDS and the RDF Materials from the date of the publication of the revised conditions of use on our website.  Please check this page regularly to ensure you are familiar with the current version.

Terms and conditions of use last amended: September 2015

The use of the Vitae website is subject to the Terms and Conditions of Use.