A researcher in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

Large increase in research judged to be ‘world-leading’ at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ

Two-thirds of º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ academics deliver internationally leading research – 17th highest proportion in the sector, out of 154 universities

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s inclusive approach confirms research embedded in all we do

Data released today (Thursday 18 December 2014) as part of the national Research Excellence Framework (REF) reveals that º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ has consolidated its position in the premier league of research universities.

The results show that 65.5% of the work of º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s academic staff who were eligible to be submitted to the REF was judged as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’, and is therefore eligible to receive research funding. This compares to a national average figure of 43%.

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ demonstrated its pre-eminence in sport and is again home to the country’s largest concentration of world-leading research in this area. In total seven subject areas, covering 60% of º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ staff, feature in their national subject top ten on this measure.

The following table indicates the proportion of staff that were judged ‘world-leading’ (4*-rated) or ‘internationally excellent’ (3*-rated) as a proportion of staff who were eligible to be submitted to the REF.

% of eligible staff whose work was judged 3* or 4*

Rank

University

%

1

Imperial College London

83.28%

2

University of Cambridge

82.96%

3

University of Bristol

76.11%

4

University of Oxford

75.70%

5

University of Southampton

75.64%

6

University College London

74.99%

7

London School of Economics and Political Science

73.96%

8

Queen's University Belfast

72.50%

9

University of Warwick

72.24%

10

University of Edinburgh

68.71%

11

University of Glasgow

67.95%

12

King's College London

67.88%

13

University of St Andrews

67.81%

14

University of Exeter

66.69%

15

University of Strathclyde

66.41%

16

University of Birmingham

65.71%

17

LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY

65.47%

18

University of Durham

65.47%

19

University of Reading

64.93%

20

University of Manchester

64.40%

21

University of Bath

64.19%

22

Lancaster University

63.53%

23

University of Sheffield

63.49%

24

University of Nottingham

63.35%

25

Queen Mary University of London

63.31%

26

University of Essex

63.22%

27

Newcastle University

63.03%

28

Royal Holloway, University of London

62.57%

29

University of Kent

62.53%

30

University of York

62.16%

The very high submission rate at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ (88% of eligible staff were returned) was one of the highest in the sector and provides assurance to students that they will enjoy the benefits of being taught in a world-class research environment.

Overall the proportion of º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s research judged to be ‘world leading’ (4*) increased by 37% and that considered ‘internationally excellent’ increased by 23%.

Vice Chancellor, Robert Allison said: “The combination of a significant increase in the proportion of our research deemed world leading, and high, inclusive submission rate, evidences our claim to be one the UK’s premier research universities where students can be assured that their courses involve staff at the cutting edge of their intellectual disciplines.”

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