REF 2014

In the UK the principal means of finding out which individuals, departments and institutions are producing the most excellent research is the national Research Excellence Framework (REF). REF is the successor to the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).

Our spotlight results

World Leading Research

  • 14.9% of the University’s entire submission has been classed as world leading
  • 30.9% of the ‘Impact’ component of the University’s entire submission has been classed as world leading
  • 12.9% of research outputs in the University’s entire submission have been classed as world leading

Internationally Renowned Research

  • 89.7% of the University’s entire submission is internationally renowned
  • 87.2% of the University’s research outputs are internationally renowned
  • 93.0% of the ‘Impact’ component of the University’s entire submission is internationally renowned
  • 94.8% of the ‘Research Environment’ component of the University’s entire submission is internationally renowned

What REF asseses

The REF assesses research excellence by focusing on three elements considered by independent expert review:

  • The quality of research outputs (65%)
  • The reach and significance of the impact of research (20%)
  • The quality and strengths of the research environment (15%)

Assessment is based on:

  1. Recognised nationally in terms of originality, significance and rigour
  2. Recognised internationally in terms of originality, significance and rigour
  3. Internationally excellent in terms of originality, significance and rigour
  4. World-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour

How we did

In 2014 we entered five specialist areas:

World leading research

  • 11.% of the entire English entry was classed as ‘world leading’
  • 16.7% of the ‘Outputs’ component of the English entry was classed as ‘world leading’

Internationally renowned research

  • 91.% of the entire English entry was international renowned
  • 100% of the ‘Impact’ component of the English entry was international renowned
  • 86.7% of the ‘Outputs’ component of the English entry was international renowned

World leading research

  • 9.0% of the entire History entry was classed as ‘world leading’
  • 11.5% of the ‘Outputs’ component of the History entry was classed as ‘world leading’

Internationally renowned research

  • 98% of the entire History entry was international renowned
  • 100% of the ‘Impact’ component of the History entry was international renowned
  • 96.2% of the ‘Outputs’ component of the History entry was international renowned

World leading research

  • 24% of the entire Music, Dance and Performing Arts entry was classed as ‘world leading’
  • 50% of the ‘Impact’ component of the Music, Dance and Performing Arts entry was classed as ‘world leading’
  • 20.9% of the ‘Outputs’ component of the Music, Dance and Performing Arts entry was classed as ‘world leading’

Internationally renowned research

  • 76% of the entire Music, Dance and Performing Arts entry was international renowned
  • 100% of the ‘Impact’ component of the Music, Dance and Performing Arts entry was international renowned

Internationally renowned research

  • 81% of the entire Psychology entry was classed as international renowned
  • 94.7% of the research outputs submitted by Psychology staff were international renowned

World leading research

  • 18% of the entire Sport entry was classed as ‘world leading’
  • 53.3% of the ‘Impact’ component of the Sport entry was classed as ‘world leading’
  • 11.1% of the ‘Outputs’ component of the Sport entry was classed as ‘world leading’

Internationally renowned research

  • 97% of the entire Sport entry was international renowned
  • 100% of the ‘Impact’ component of the Sport entry was international renowned
  • 95.2% of the ‘Outputs’ component of the Sport entry was international renowned