Below is a browsable table of the REF 2014 data. We’ve calculated a ranking of institutions based on grade point average which includes the specialist institutions that tend to score very highly in this measure, but have considerably smaller volume than the research-intensive universities – and so usually fall lower down on research ‘power’ which is what many other rankings assess. Original data from HEFCE, interpretation and scoring is ours.
We have also since published a second table following the release of further data from HESA which allows us to measure research ‘intensity’ in each university and score every institution. Find that here.
RANK | Name | No of Units | Total FTE | 4* | 3* | 2* | 1* | 0.00 | GPA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Courtauld Institute of Art | 1 | 32 | 56.9 | 39.6 | 4.1 | 0.0 | 1 | 3.5 |
2 | Institute of Cancer Research | 2 | 103 | 50 | 41.7 | 7.7 | 0.0 | 1 | 3.4 |
3 | Imperial College London | 14 | 1257 | 46.4 | 44.2 | 8.6 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 3.4 |
4 | London School of Economics and Political Science | 14 | 532 | 49.9 | 37.4 | 11.0 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 3.3 |
5 | University of Oxford | 31 | 2409 | 48.1 | 39.1 | 11.4 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 3.3 |
6 | University of Cambridge | 32 | 2088 | 46.8 | 40.4 | 11.5 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 3.3 |
7 | London Business School | 1 | 99 | 55.9 | 26.0 | 12.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.3 |
8 | Cardiff University | 27 | 738 | 40.4 | 46.9 | 11.5 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 3.3 |
9 | King's College London | 27 | 1369 | 40.2 | 45.0 | 13.0 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 3.2 |
10 | University of Warwick | 23 | 931 | 36.9 | 49.7 | 12.3 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 3.2 |
11 | University College London | 36 | 2566 | 42.6 | 39.5 | 15.4 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 3.2 |
12 | London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine | 2 | 314 | 42.4 | 36.6 | 19.7 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 3.2 |
13 | Queen Mary, University of London | 21 | 671 | 34.1 | 51.8 | 12.6 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 3.2 |
14 | University of Edinburgh | 31 | 1753 | 37.6 | 44.9 | 15.5 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 3.2 |
15 | University of Bristol | 31 | 1138 | 36 | 47.3 | 15.1 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 3.2 |
16 | University of Sheffield | 35 | 1043 | 33.3 | 52.2 | 13.1 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 3.2 |
17 | University of Bath | 13 | 462 | 32.3 | 54.5 | 11.3 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 3.2 |
18 | University of York | 24 | 643 | 35.3 | 48.0 | 15.1 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 3.2 |
19 | University of Manchester | 35 | 1561 | 35.3 | 47.3 | 15.7 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 3.2 |
20 | SRUC | 1 | 57 | 42.3 | 32.2 | 23.1 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 3.2 |
21 | University of Southampton | 26 | 1113 | 32.9 | 51.4 | 14.0 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 3.1 |
22 | Lancaster University | 16 | 580 | 34.7 | 47.5 | 15.5 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 3.1 |
23 | University of Durham | 23 | 740 | 32.6 | 50.5 | 15.4 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 3.1 |
24 | University of Leeds | 33 | 1149 | 32.4 | 50.4 | 15.4 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 3.1 |
25 | University of St Andrews | 20 | 519 | 32.4 | 49.8 | 16.4 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 3.1 |
26 | Royal Veterinary College | 1 | 103 | 35.2 | 44.2 | 18.1 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 3.1 |
27 | Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine | 2 | 35 | 31.3 | 49.2 | 19.1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 3.1 |
28 | University of East Anglia | 24 | 455 | 30.2 | 52.4 | 16.0 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 3.1 |
29 | University of the Arts London | 1 | 110 | 30.9 | 51.9 | 15.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 3.1 |
30 | University of Glasgow | 32 | 1099 | 30.9 | 50.2 | 16.8 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 3.1 |
31 | Royal College of Music | 1 | 14 | 35 | 40.1 | 22.6 | 4.1 | 1.0 | 3.1 |
32 | Swansea University | 18 | 370 | 31 | 49.1 | 17.9 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 3.1 |
33 | Royal Holloway, University of London | 17 | 378 | 30 | 50.9 | 17.3 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 3.1 |
34 | University of Nottingham | 32 | 1404 | 31.6 | 48.6 | 17.4 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 3.1 |
35 | Newcastle University | 28 | 888 | 31.4 | 47.7 | 19.3 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 3.1 |
36 | University of Exeter | 25 | 736 | 29 | 52.5 | 16.2 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 3.1 |
37 | University of Birmingham | 33 | 1065 | 28.3 | 53.2 | 16.3 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 3.1 |
38 | Royal Central School of Speech and Drama | 1 | 21 | 39.5 | 31.4 | 25.3 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 3.1 |
39 | Cranfield University | 3 | 224 | 26.5 | 54.2 | 18.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 3.1 |
40 | Heriot-Watt University | 12 | 352 | 26.4 | 55.7 | 15.9 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 3.1 |
41 | University of Liverpool | 26 | 760 | 27.1 | 53.6 | 17.7 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 3.1 |
42 | Royal College of Art | 1 | 60 | 36.7 | 39.7 | 16.9 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 3.1 |
43 | Aston University | 7 | 199 | 28.9 | 49.5 | 20.2 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 3.1 |
44 | University of Essex | 14 | 339 | 29.6 | 47.8 | 20.7 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 3.0 |
45 | University of Strathclyde | 17 | 558 | 27.8 | 51.1 | 18.7 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 3.0 |
46 | University of Reading | 23 | 590 | 26.7 | 51.3 | 20.1 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 3.0 |
47 | University of Dundee | 20 | 396 | 31.1 | 44.4 | 21.2 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 3.0 |
48 | Royal Northern College of Music | 1 | 11 | 35.3 | 38.2 | 21.6 | 2.9 | 0.0 | 3.0 |
49 | University of Sussex | 24 | 501 | 27.5 | 48.4 | 21.5 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 3.0 |
50 | Cardiff Metropolitan University | 3 | 35 | 24.5 | 54.6 | 18.3 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 3.0 |
51 | Bangor University | 14 | 233 | 25.7 | 51.2 | 20.0 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 3.0 |
52 | Queen's University Belfast | 28 | 868 | 24.6 | 51.9 | 21.4 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 3.0 |
53 | University of Surrey | 15 | 459 | 21.8 | 56.3 | 19.9 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 3.0 |
54 | St George's, University of London | 2 | 56 | 29.4 | 40.1 | 29.5 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 3.0 |
55 | University of Aberdeen | 25 | 597 | 23.9 | 51.7 | 21.7 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 3.0 |
56 | Birkbeck College | 14 | 328 | 27.3 | 45.7 | 23.4 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 3.0 |
57 | University of Stirling | 15 | 301 | 25.1 | 48.5 | 23.9 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 3.0 |
58 | University of Kent | 23 | 591 | 25.2 | 48.1 | 23.7 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 3.0 |
59 | Loughborough University | 18 | 646 | 24.6 | 49.4 | 22.7 | 3.1 | 0.2 | 3.0 |
60 | City University, London | 12 | 378 | 23.3 | 52.4 | 20.9 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 3.0 |
61 | University of Bradford | 7 | 124 | 23.9 | 50.4 | 22.4 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 2.9 |
62 | University of Wales | 1 | 12 | 26.8 | 40.1 | 29.8 | 6.2 | 0.0 | 2.9 |
63 | University of Leicester | 25 | 672 | 20.3 | 55.1 | 21.9 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 2.9 |
64 | University of Ulster | 20 | 449 | 24.2 | 47.4 | 24.3 | 3.4 | 0.7 | 2.9 |
65 | Open University | 18 | 396 | 20.8 | 51.4 | 25.7 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 2.9 |
66 | Goldsmiths' College | 13 | 238 | 23.9 | 46.2 | 27.0 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 2.9 |
67 | Institute of Education | No Units of Assessment Submitted | 0 | 35.0 | 30.0 | 25.0 | 10.0 | 0.0 | 2.9 |
68 | Keele University | 17 | 267 | 20.8 | 50.0 | 25.8 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 2.9 |
69 | Norwich University of the Arts | 1 | 7 | 20.2 | 38.3 | 42.6 | 5.3 | 0.0 | 2.9 |
70 | University of Brighton | 10 | 209 | 22.9 | 44.6 | 27.4 | 4.6 | 0.7 | 2.8 |
71 | Aberystwyth University | 17 | 317 | 22.0 | 45.4 | 28.2 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 2.8 |
72 | Roehampton University | 13 | 149 | 22.0 | 44.1 | 28.9 | 4.9 | 0.2 | 2.8 |
73 | School of Oriental and African Studies | 11 | 234 | 22.6 | 43.1 | 28.5 | 5.0 | 0.8 | 2.8 |
74 | Royal Conservatoire of Scotland | 1 | 15 | 25.6 | 40.4 | 25.6 | 5.9 | 1.0 | 2.8 |
75 | Heythrop College | 1 | 16 | 21.7 | 39.5 | 35.6 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.8 |
76 | Liverpool John Moores University | 17 | 243 | 17.6 | 48.7 | 29.3 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 2.8 |
77 | Sheffield Hallam University | 11 | 226 | 17.9 | 47.0 | 29.3 | 5.4 | 0.5 | 2.8 |
78 | University of the Highlands and Islands | 6 | 68 | 12.8 | 56.3 | 26.3 | 3.9 | 0.9 | 2.8 |
79 | University of Portsmouth | 15 | 282 | 15.8 | 48.3 | 31.7 | 3.8 | 0.4 | 2.8 |
80 | Glasgow School of Art | 1 | 53 | 22.9 | 37.9 | 30.9 | 8.0 | 0.0 | 2.7 |
81 | Manchester Metropolitan University | 13 | 313 | 14.9 | 50.0 | 30.0 | 4.3 | 0.6 | 2.7 |
82 | University of Westminster | 13 | 210 | 19.6 | 42.7 | 30.4 | 6.5 | 0.8 | 2.7 |
83 | Plymouth University | 18 | 366 | 14.7 | 50.4 | 30.1 | 3.5 | 1.4 | 2.7 |
84 | Royal Academy of Music | 1 | 14 | 20.9 | 39.7 | 33.8 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 2.7 |
85 | University of East London | 13 | 129 | 16.6 | 45.0 | 32.1 | 6.4 | 0.4 | 2.7 |
86 | Bournemouth University | 8 | 162 | 16.5 | 43.3 | 35.8 | 4.1 | 0.3 | 2.7 |
87 | Northumbria University Newcastle | 16 | 343 | 16.4 | 43.9 | 33.9 | 5.6 | 0.1 | 2.7 |
88 | University of Hull | 16 | 355 | 14.2 | 47.4 | 33.1 | 5.1 | 0.3 | 2.7 |
89 | University of the West of England, Bristol | 17 | 299 | 15.4 | 45.6 | 33.0 | 5.7 | 0.4 | 2.7 |
90 | Kingston University | 9 | 139 | 16.3 | 43.5 | 34.6 | 5.0 | 0.4 | 2.7 |
91 | University for the Creative Arts | 1 | 21 | 16.8 | 46.4 | 28.7 | 4.9 | 2.0 | 2.7 |
92 | Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance | 1 | 12 | 17.4 | 48.3 | 23.2 | 7.7 | 0.0 | 2.7 |
93 | De Montfort University | 12 | 218 | 16.1 | 41.6 | 36.7 | 5.1 | 0.7 | 2.7 |
94 | Glasgow Caledonian University | 9 | 153 | 12.6 | 48.3 | 33.3 | 5.4 | 0.4 | 2.7 |
95 | Coventry University | 9 | 153 | 14.5 | 46.4 | 31.3 | 7.5 | 0.2 | 2.7 |
96 | Brunel University | 21 | 577 | 14.3 | 46.8 | 31.4 | 6.4 | 0.9 | 2.7 |
97 | Oxford Brookes University | 17 | 269 | 14.3 | 44.9 | 34.6 | 5.7 | 0.6 | 2.7 |
98 | Harper Adams University | 1 | 17 | 10.0 | 46.0 | 44.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.7 |
99 | University of Huddersfield | 13 | 234 | 14.6 | 43.6 | 34.6 | 6.2 | 0.9 | 2.6 |
100 | Birmingham City University | 11 | 122 | 15.7 | 44.0 | 30.5 | 8.5 | 1.3 | 2.6 |
101 | Queen Margaret University Edinburgh | 5 | 43 | 15.4 | 41.8 | 34.2 | 8.0 | 0.0 | 2.6 |
102 | University of Hertfordshire | 13 | 192 | 11.0 | 46.1 | 35.9 | 5.9 | 0.8 | 2.6 |
103 | University of West London | 5 | 36 | 5.2 | 19.7 | 38.0 | 35.0 | 1.4 | 2.6 |
104 | Nottingham Trent University | 16 | 246 | 14.5 | 40.7 | 35.2 | 8.3 | 1.3 | 2.6 |
105 | Middlesex University | 10 | 272 | 12.3 | 45.6 | 32.1 | 8.1 | 1.8 | 2.6 |
106 | Teesside University | 8 | 87 | 8.8 | 49.7 | 33.1 | 7.6 | 1.0 | 2.6 |
107 | University of Lincoln | 17 | 177 | 13.0 | 40.0 | 36.9 | 8.3 | 1.9 | 2.5 |
108 | University of Salford | 13 | 242 | 10.6 | 42.8 | 38.2 | 6.9 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
109 | Bath Spa University | 6 | 74 | 13.1 | 40.0 | 34.4 | 11.0 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
110 | Edinburgh Napier University | 9 | 99 | 9.8 | 43.6 | 37.6 | 7.2 | 1.8 | 2.5 |
111 | University of Bedfordshire | 11 | 153 | 14.1 | 35.2 | 40.3 | 9.3 | 1.0 | 2.5 |
112 | London South Bank University | 7 | 102 | 6.1 | 48.0 | 37.9 | 7.0 | 0.7 | 2.5 |
113 | University of Central Lancashire | 16 | 247 | 8.5 | 42.6 | 40.8 | 7.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 |
114 | University of South Wales | 12 | 117 | 11.8 | 38.5 | 39.7 | 8.5 | 1.4 | 2.5 |
115 | University of Chichester | 5 | 52 | 14.9 | 32.4 | 41.9 | 8.5 | 1.8 | 2.5 |
116 | London Metropolitan University | 12 | 80 | 11.1 | 38.7 | 35.4 | 13.3 | 1.8 | 2.4 |
117 | Guildhall School of Music & Drama | 1 | 16 | 20.9 | 29.9 | 30.9 | 8.0 | 10.0 | 2.4 |
118 | University of Wales, Trinity Saint David | 6 | 40 | 10.7 | 35.3 | 40.2 | 12.8 | 2.1 | 2.4 |
119 | Canterbury Christ Church University | 10 | 137 | 6.7 | 39.1 | 41.3 | 11.6 | 1.3 | 2.4 |
120 | University of Gloucestershire | 6 | 56 | 9.8 | 34.5 | 40.2 | 15.4 | 0.4 | 2.4 |
121 | Anglia Ruskin University | 15 | 168 | 7.2 | 37.7 | 41.5 | 12.0 | 1.8 | 2.4 |
122 | University of the West of Scotland | 9 | 118 | 6.5 | 37.6 | 42.9 | 12.2 | 1.0 | 2.4 |
123 | Stranmillis University College | 1 | 5 | 20.0 | 24.0 | 28.0 | 28.0 | 0.0 | 2.4 |
124 | Robert Gordon University | 9 | 102 | 7.7 | 34.9 | 42.5 | 13.7 | 0.8 | 2.3 |
125 | University of Greenwich | 19 | 201 | 8.5 | 33.1 | 43.2 | 13.4 | 2.0 | 2.3 |
126 | Arts University Bournemouth | 1 | 12 | 7.1 | 36.3 | 38.3 | 18.2 | 1.0 | 2.3 |
127 | University of Wolverhampton | 13 | 170 | 8.2 | 32.9 | 43.8 | 11.9 | 3.1 | 2.3 |
128 | University of Winchester | 8 | 73 | 7.8 | 35.3 | 38.7 | 15.7 | 1.9 | 2.3 |
129 | Rose Bruford College | 1 | 6 | 6.9 | 41.3 | 29.5 | 14.8 | 5.9 | 2.3 |
130 | Edge Hill University | 12 | 138 | 7.2 | 32.8 | 39.3 | 17.5 | 3.6 | 2.2 |
131 | Liverpool Hope University | 12 | 112 | 6.8 | 30.1 | 41.9 | 20.0 | 1.5 | 2.2 |
132 | Buckinghamshire New University | 4 | 24 | 7.0 | 30.6 | 41.4 | 16.9 | 4.2 | 2.2 |
133 | Staffordshire University | 8 | 81 | 6.4 | 30.2 | 40.9 | 21.2 | 1.1 | 2.2 |
134 | Leeds Metropolitan University | 11 | 201 | 8.4 | 26.2 | 41.6 | 20.9 | 3.1 | 2.2 |
135 | Newman University | 6 | 23 | 5.1 | 26.8 | 48.8 | 17.9 | 2.7 | 2.2 |
136 | Glynd_r University | 4 | 34 | 3.0 | 32.6 | 41.6 | 21.4 | 1.0 | 2.1 |
137 | University of Abertay Dundee | 7 | 67 | 5.1 | 27.1 | 49.6 | 13.7 | 3.9 | 2.1 |
138 | University of Sunderland | 13 | 147 | 6.1 | 26.5 | 44.0 | 20.7 | 2.8 | 2.1 |
139 | University of Cumbria | 6 | 27 | 6.4 | 22.6 | 48.9 | 20.6 | 0.8 | 2.1 |
140 | University of Northampton | 9 | 94 | 4.1 | 26.5 | 47.4 | 19.1 | 3.2 | 2.1 |
141 | University of Worcester | 11 | 104 | 4.7 | 28.3 | 41.0 | 22.9 | 3.6 | 2.1 |
142 | University of Chester | 16 | 138 | 5.5 | 25.4 | 44.2 | 21.8 | 3.5 | 2.1 |
143 | University of Derby | 10 | 107 | 5.4 | 24.4 | 44.6 | 22.6 | 2.8 | 2.1 |
144 | Falmouth University | 2 | 50 | 7.2 | 21.1 | 48.8 | 16.1 | 7.6 | 2.1 |
145 | York St John University | 9 | 68 | 6.4 | 23.9 | 43.0 | 21.2 | 5.9 | 2.0 |
146 | University of Bolton | 7 | 49 | 5.6 | 26.2 | 41.1 | 20.8 | 6.4 | 2.0 |
147 | Leeds Trinity University | 5 | 20 | 4.6 | 21.2 | 50.8 | 18.1 | 5.8 | 2.0 |
148 | St Mary's University, Twickenham | 7 | 45 | 10.8 | 18.9 | 32.9 | 32.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 |
149 | Bishop Grosseteste University | 3 | 11 | 6.4 | 17.6 | 45.6 | 26.8 | 3.5 | 2.0 |
150 | Southampton Solent University | 4 | 36 | 2.0 | 17.3 | 36.2 | 28.5 | 14.8 | 1.6 |
151 | University of London Institute in Paris | 1 | 3 | 0.0 | 22.0 | 25.0 | 38.0 | 15.0 | 1.5 |
152 | Royal Agricultural University | 1 | 12 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 39.0 | 38.0 | 16.0 | 1.4 |
153 | Writtle College | 2 | 12 | 0.0 | 17.7 | 25.2 | 29.5 | 31.0 | 1.3 |
154 | St Mary's University College | 1 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 20.0 | 67.0 | 13.0 | 1.1 |
155 | Institute of Zoology | 1 | 21 | 22 | 68 | 10 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.12 |