REF 2014

Our REF 2014 results demonstrate the public benefit of our research to society and the economy, with almost 90% deemed to have either 'outstanding' or 'very considerable' impact.

REF 2014 Impact case studies >>

All REF 2014 results >>

Watch our video to find out more about the wider benefits of our research.

REF 2014 Highlights

Overall research quality rating (grade point average) increased to 2.64, from 2.31 in 2008
Almost 90% of research with either 'outstanding' or 'very considerable' impact
60% of research at 4* and 3* quality, up from 40% in the Research Assessment Exercise 2008

Birmingham City University’s Research Excellence Framework (REF) results demonstrate the significant and wide reaching impact of our research and a marked improvement in overall quality.

Our REF submission was more ambitious than ever before, with more staff submitted in more subjects. We now have 11 subjects where the quality of our research has been assessed as ‘world leading’ (4*), ‘internationally excellent’ (3*) or ‘recognised internationally’ (2*), with an increase in our 4* and 3* research from 40% in 2008 to 60% in 2014.

More about the REF 2014 performance in individual Units of Assessment (UoAs)

Find out more 

Prior to 2014, REF was the Research Assessment Excercise (RAE 2008). View our RAE results here.

Research stories

Take a look at the different types of research we have in each of the subject areas.

Rediscovering the Cheapside Hoard Through Digital Visualisation

The Cheapside Hoard is a collection of principally late 16th and early 17th century jewels,…

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Trinity/Open University KS2 CPD Programme

The Evaluation of the Trinity / OU KS2 CPD Programme is a follow up research project to assess how…

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Evolving global human rights

Research into the death penalty has raised awareness of issues around the death penalty, and…

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Innovative Media and Music Heritage - 2011 to 2013

Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research (BCMCR) are the leaders of an EU-funded Leonardo…

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Integra Lab

Integra Lab is an interdisciplinary research lab based at Birmingham Conservatoire, with a focus on…

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Sustainable Uplands

By combining local knowledge with social and natural science, the project explored different…

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