REF 2021

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 results have now been published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).

REF is a retrospective assessment that happens every six or seven years and these latest results are based on our research between 2014 and 2020.

REF 2021: University of Bradford highlights

• 73% of our research is rated as Internationally Excellent or World Leading (3* or 4*)
• 75% of our outputs are rated as Internationally Excellent or World Leading (3* or 4*)
• 77% of our Impact is rated as Internationally Excellent or World Leading (3* or 4*)
• 100% of Impact in Archaeology and Computer Science and Informatics is rated as Internationally Excellent or World Leading (3* or 4*)
• 100% of Environment in Archaeology and Business and Management is rated as Internationally Excellent or World Leading (3* or 4*)
• Over 80% of outputs in Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy, Chemistry and Engineering are rated as Internationally Excellent or World Leading (3* or 4*)
• Chemistry and Psychology submitted to REF2021 for the first time
• Computer Science returned to REF2021, our distinctive capability having been submitted under the Engineering heading at the last REF

• 230 of our academics - everybody with significant responsibility for research - were submitted to REF 2021, that is over 75% more researchers than in the last 2014 round, which is significantly higher than the sector average increase of 46%

REF 2021 placed greater emphasis on the impact of research, with assessors considering its contribution to economic prosperity, national wellbeing and the expansion and dissemination of knowledge.

For detailed information see the UK's REF website.

Below are a collection of case studies from the University of Bradford's 2021 REF submission, detailing real world benefits our research has delivered.