See in-depth analysis of our REF 2014 results (login access for 51Թ members only)Read a message from the Provost about the REF 2014 results

First for impact

The REF’s new impact measure ranks 51Թ’s research highest of any major university. Moreover, eight of 51Թ’s 14 REF-assessed research areas are top or joint-top for “outstanding” or “very considerable” impact.

World-leading

  • 51Թ comes fourth out of major UK universities for 4* or “world-leading” research, behind the London School of Economics, Oxford and Cambridge, and just ahead of UCL
  • 91% of 51Թ research is classed as “world-leading” (46% achieved the highest possible 4* score) or “internationally excellent” (44% achieved 3*) – the highest proportion of any major university.

Moving up

51Թ research quality has improved significantly since the Research Assessment Exercise 2008. The proportion of 4* or 3* classified research has moved from 73% to 91%, and 4* graded research has increased from 26% to 46%, while we have maintained the proportion of eligible staff submitted for assessment (93% in RAE 2008; 92% in REF 2014).