Read the result in full on our REF2014 website.

CLES research rated internationally excellent in latest national assessment

CLES research has been rated as world-leading or internationally excellent in the first assessment of the research quality of UK universities since 2008, the Research Excellence Framework (REF).

This strong and consistent performance across the college also shows significant improvements since the last research assessment in 2008.

Submissions to the REF were made in 36 Units of Assessment (UoA) and the quality of research was assessed using a 0-4* rating system.  

Sport and Health Sciences had an exceptionally strong result with 89% of research rated at 4* and 3* - this is the equal second best performance in the University – and a significant improvement from 35% in 2008. Biological Sciences had 88% of research rated at 4* and 3* - up from 50% in 2008. Psychology had 85% of research rated at 4* and 3* - up from 55% in 2008. Geography had 77% of research rated at 4* and 3* with a substantial increase in numbers of staff submitted. The Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences submission included academics from three Colleges and five UoAs. With 89% of research rated at 4*and 3*, this is the equal second best performance in the University along with Sport and Health Sciences.

Dan Charman, Dean said: “I am delighted by this consistently strong performance across the whole College and my personal thanks go out to all the academic and professional services staff who have contributed to this splendid result. There are exciting times ahead, particularly with our plans for more inter-disciplinary work and this, combined with the vibrancy of our research community, bodes well for future success.”

At an institutional level, 82% of Exeter’s research has been rated as world-leading or internationally excellent which represents a huge rise from 56% in 2008 and places it first in the South West.

Three Units of Assessments are in the national top 5, eight in the national top 10 and more than three quarters of all Units of Assessments are in the top 20 for their discipline, when taking research graded at 4*and 3* together, Exeter is ranked 16th in the UK for 4* research - the very highest grade.

Date: 17 December 2014

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