REF 2021

Spiel

Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences

Ranked 9th in the UK for 4* and 3* research overall. 100% of our impact and environment is 4* and 3*.

Chemistry

3rd in the UK for outstanding (4*) research impact, 7th for research overall, joint 9th for research outputs and joint 10th for research environments.

Physics

Top 10 in the UK for research outputs, based of GPA, and joint 7th in the UK for research environment, based on GPA.

Mathematical Sciences

95% of our research outputs are rated as world leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*) and 90% of our research impact is rated as outstanding (4*) or very considerable (3*)

Computer Science and Informatics

5th in the UK for world leading (4*) research outputs, and 100% of research environment rated as world leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*).

Engineering

6th in the UK for outstanding (4*) impact and 17th in the UK for world leading (4*) overall quality.

Geography and Environmental Studies

Joint 8th in the UK for world leading (4*) research environment and 14th in the UK for research power.

Our results

Our research spans seven subject-based REF units of assessment, with REF 2021 highlights for our Faculty including:

  • 58.1% of our environment is world leading (4*) and five of our seven units are in the top quartile in the sector for world leading (4*) environment
  • 47% of our outputs are world leading (4*)
  • 42.7% of our impact is outstanding (4*)

You can view a full summary of REF 2021 results for each unit of assessment below.

Definitions of metrics quoted can be found here.

An environmental scientist working on a clean air lab
Three scientists working in a chemistry lab
The inner workings of a machine in a physics lab
Students and a maths teacher writing calculations on a white board
Several rows of servers
A researcher using lab machinery
A icy landscape depicting mountains and large chunks of ice floating in the sea