Close
CHOOSE A SUBJECT
mask
Research Excellence Framework 2014 results
The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.
Results of the last REF, which took place in 2014, confirmed the University of Reading's place as a world-leading research-intensive university. We were placed 19th in the UK by research intensity: a measure of quality adjusted by the proportion of researchers submitted. We were placed 27th out of 154 institutions in the UK by research power - a measure of the quality and quantity of research.
REF 2014 results
Highlights
The REF results confirm the University of Reading’s research strengths, particularly within the following REF subject groupings, known as 'Units of Assessment':
Agriculture, Veterinary & Food Science
Comprising work in the departments of Agriculture and Food, as well as some contributions from Clinical Health Science and Biological Sciences
- Ranked 4th in UK by Research Power
- Ranked 6th in UK by GPA ('grade point average' - the average of quality scorings)
- 45% of its research rated world-leading (4*)
- 85% of impact submission rated outstanding (4*)
- 100% of environment submission rated 4* (conducive to world-leading research).
Earth Systems & Environmental Sciences
Primarily comprising Meteorology, but also submissions from Geography & Environmental Science
- Ranked 3rd in UK by Research Power
- 51.1% of impact submission rated outstanding (4*)
- 60% of environment submission rated 4* (conducive to world-leading research).
Architecture, Built Environment and Planning
Comprising work submitted from Construction Management & Engineering and from Real Estate & Planning
Ranked 6th in UK by Research Power
- Ranked 8th in UK by GPA
- 41% of research rated world-leading (4*)
- 70% of impact submission rated outstanding (4*)
- 50% of environment submission rated 4* (conducive to world-leading research)
Business and Management
Comprising work from the Henley Business School plus submissions from Economics
- Ranked 16th in the UK (out of 101) by GPA
- 60% of impact submission rated outstanding (4*)
- 50% of environment submission rated 4* (conducive to world-leading research)
Typography
Research from the Department of Typography was submitted into the Unit of Assessment 'Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory'
- Ranked 1st in UK by GPA
- 56% rated research rated world-leading (4*)
- 70% of impact submission rated outstanding (4*)
- 80% of environment submission rated 4* (conducive to world-leading research)
Classics
Comprises work from staff within the Department of Classics
- Ranked 6th in UK by GPA
- Ranked 3rd in the UK by GPA for research outputs
- 37.3% of research outputs rated as world-leading (4*)