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.
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)
- UoA 3 - Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy
- UoA 11 - Computer Science and Informatics
- UoA 16 - Architecture, Built Environment and Planning
- UoA 19 - Business and Management Studies
- UoA 20 - Law
- UoA 22 - Social Work and Social Policy
- UoA 25 - Education
- UoA 29 - English Language and Literature
- UoA 34 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
- UoA 35 - Music, Drama, Dance and Performing Arts
- UoA 36 - Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management
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,…
Trinity/Open University KS2 CPD Programme
The Evaluation of the Trinity / OU KS2 CPD Programme is a follow up research project to assess how…
Evolving global human rights
Research into the death penalty has raised awareness of issues around the death penalty, and…
Innovative Media and Music Heritage - 2011 to 2013
Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research (BCMCR) are the leaders of an EU-funded Leonardo…
Integra Lab
Integra Lab is an interdisciplinary research lab based at Birmingham Conservatoire, with a focus on…
Sustainable Uplands
By combining local knowledge with social and natural science, the project explored different…