REF 2014 was the first assessment of a new system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. It replaced the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) last conducted in 2008.
REF 2014 results
UCL was the top-rated university in the UK for research strength in the Research Excellence Framework 2014 by a measure of average research score multiplied by staff numbers submitted.
UCL researchers received a 'grade point average' of 3.22 (out of 4) and submitted over 2,500 staff to be assessed in REF 2014, giving UCL an overall research power greater than both the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge.
Other highlights of REF 2014 for UCL include:
- UCL enjoys the greatest amount of 4* ("world leading") research in Panel A, covering medicine and biological sciences, much of which is conducted in collaboration with our partner hospitals
- UCL has the largest amount of academic research activity in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics);
- UCL has the strongest research power and share of 4* research in Panel C, covering social sciences, and overtaking both Oxford University and the LSE for the first time;
- UCL Economics, UCL Psychology & Language Sciences, UCL Neuroscience, the UCL Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment, the UCL Institute of Education, UCL Chemistry and UCL Computer Science are among the university's top research performers nationally;
- UCL received a 'grade point average' of 3.54 (out of 4) regarding the real-world impact of its research, placing it among the top comprehensive universities rated.
Professor Michael Arthur, former UCL President & Provost, said: "The REF 2014 is hugely significant, more so than any league table or university ranking, because it determines the funding that every UK higher education institution will receive in the coming years. These results will allow us to invest further in excellent research, and to further build the mutually beneficial relationship between our research and student education.
"We pride ourselves on our strength as a multidisciplinary university so it is noteworthy that we have achieved excellent results across such a wide spectrum. Our traditional strength in biomedicine is reflected in UCL having the largest share of 4* research assessed by that panel, but we have also performed strongly in disciplines as varied as computer science, built environment, economics and education."
Professor David Price, UCL Vice-Provost (Research), said: "Our research strength has been rated top not only in the overall results, but in each component: our publications and other outputs, our research environment and our research impact. This reflects the passion and commitment of our researchers - as well as those who provide them with professional support - to fulfil our potential as London's Global University, both generating applicable knowledge and expanding the potential of human thought and action."
UCL's submission
UCL was the top-rated university in the UK for research strength in the REF 2014.
- UCL made the 1st Largest Submission in London
- 36 submissions* were made to the individual Units of Assessments
- 2750 Staff were submitted (2567 FTE)
- 491 Early Career Researchers submitted
- 9416 Outputs submitted
- 295 Impact Case Studies submitted
- > £1.4 Billion Research Income reported in REF4
- Our outputs included 372 monographs, 62 Edited Books, 7 Scholarly Editions
*UCL did not submit to all of the 36 REF Units of Assessment but multiple submissions were made to each of the following panels: 3 Allied health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy; 17 Geography, Environmental Studies and Archaeology; 25 Education; 34 Art and Design, History, Practice and Theory.
Key facts on all UK submissions
- 154 UK universities took part in REF 2014.
- They made 1,911 submissions which comprised:
- 52,077 academic staff
- 191,232 research outputs
- 6,975 impact case studies. - 36 expert sub-panels reviewed the submissions, which were overseen by four main panels.
- Around £2 billion per year of research funding will be allocated on the basis of the results.
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