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REF 2021

The (REF) is the UK’s system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. It first took place in 2014 replacing the previous Research Assessment Exercise.

According to REF 2021, more than 88% of research carried out by the University of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø is world-leading or internationally excellent. The overall quality of research at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø has also increased by 5.7% since the last assessment exercise in 2014.

Overall under GPA, the University of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø ranked 3rd in Scotland and 28th in the UK.

Results

REF 2021 found that ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø particularly excelled in a number of key research areas. Using the method of Grade Point Average (GPA), ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø was top in Scotland for:

  • Physics
  • Earth Sciences
  • Modern Languages
  • Art History
  • Anthropology
  • Chemistry (joint submission with the University of Edinburgh).

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’ partnership with the University of Edinburgh for Chemistry was first in the UK based on the quality and breadth of its combined research, using the Power Index methodology published in the Times Higher Education (THE) with their combined weight.

Also performing strongly in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø were Medicine, Psychology and Neuroscience, History, and Mathematics and Statistics.

GPA benchmarking source:  

Power Index methodology:  

Highlights

REF2021 Research Highlights at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø include:

  • Medicine

  • Chemistry

  • Psychology and Neuroscience

  • Earth and Environmental Sciences

  • Mathematics and Statistics

  • Modern Languages

  • Art History

  • Social Anthropology and Divinity

Contact

Research and Innovation Services

Research Impact