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REF Results

12 May 2022

Today the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 results are out.

IOE REF 2021

The REF is a UK wide process which ensures that world-leading research is recognised and encourages research which makes positive impacts on society.

UCL Medical School’s Research Department of Medical Education (RDME) collaborated with the Institute of Education (IOE) and the Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences’ Department of Science and Technology Studies in UCL’s REF submission to Unit of Assessment 23 (UoA23) (Education). 

Professor Ann Griffin, Head of the RDME at UCL Medical School, said:

‘I am delighted that medical education at UCL has once again been represented in the REF. Collaborating with colleagues at the IOE, who formed the major part of this ‘Unit’, has been an enormously rewarding experience. RDME is passionate to demonstrate the vital impact that medical education research makes to patient care and an enormous thank you to the whole team who worked to make this submission an outstanding success. We look forward to contributing further with colleagues at the IOE as well as with our community of medical educators ensuring that we continue to grow our research for a real-world impact’. 

Key highlights

  • All eligible members of the Research Department of Medical Education were submitted to the REF.
  • UCL made the largest submission to UoA23 (Education): 353 staff were submitted making this our most inclusive REF submission to date. Our FTE submission was three times bigger than that of our closest competitors. 
  • UCL’s submission to Education is ranked 1st for overall research power in UoA23. Research power is a measure that takes into consideration both the quality and size of a submission.
  • UCL’s submission to Education is ranked 1st for overall research strength in UoA23, a measure of ‘world-leading’ and ‘internationally excellent’ research activity and size; 89% of our research activity was rated ‘world-leading’ (4*) and ‘internationally excellent’ (3*).
  • Our Environment Statement received the highest possible rating (100% 4*), recognising the vitality and sustainability of our environment that produces research of world-leading quality and enables outstanding impact.  
  • 92.3% of our impact was rated 4*, achieving outstanding impacts in terms of reach and significance, and 7.7% was rated 3*.  

Data source for research power and research strength calculations: REF 2021 Results Analysis Tool developed by Elsevier Analytical Services and Data Services, part of Elsevier Research Intelligence.

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