Research quality
Research Assessment Exercise
The Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2008 results confirm the standing of the University of Reading as a research-intensive university. Published in December 2008, the outcomes recognise over 87% of the university's research to be of international standing. The work of over 600 University of Reading research active staff was submitted to the Higher Education Funding Council for England for the RAE (88% of our eligible staff), demonstrating the breadth and quality of research across the university.
Professor Dianne Berry, Pro Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Reading, said: "The RAE outcomes demonstrate that the University of Reading is an international leader in research areas that affect people's lives such as climate research and food biosciences."
Areas of particular research strength recognised by the 2008 RAE include meteorology and climate change, typography and graphic design, archaeology, italian, philosophy, food biosciences, construction management, real estate and planning as well as law.
See the full results of the RAE 2008 for the University of Reading.
You can find out more about the research quality of a particular subject area though our list of postgraduate subjects.
External teaching quality audit (known as the Institutional Audit)
All UK Universities' teaching and learning policies are assessed by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) through a process of Institutional Audit. The audit team consists of academic staff from other universities appointed by the QAA.
The University of Reading was audited during 2004. The QAA report identified a range of positive aspects, including:
- Our links with industry, professional bodies and practice which are used to inform the curriculum, assist student employability and support research
- The positive light in which students saw the academic support and guidance that they received
- Student induction, particularly the International Student's Welcome Week. ( Welcome programme)
