18 Dec 08

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has today published the results of its Research Assessment Exercise 2008.

The University of Oxford was judged to have the largest submission of world-leading research (4* rated by HEFCE) in the UK. Oxford also has the largest submission of world-leading or internationally excellent research (4* or 3* rated) in the UK.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, Dr John Hood, said: ‘We are delighted with these results. Having submitted over 85% of our academics for assessment, this is a genuine reflection of the breadth and depth of Oxford’s research activity.

‘Our research strength is reflected across all subject areas and across all types of researcher, from those at early stages in their career to established professors.’

The Research Assessment Exercise produces quality ratings for every research activity submitted by a higher education institution to its assessment panels. HEFCE will use these quality profiles to determine the level of research grants each institution receives from 2009–10.

In this RAE the methods of rating have changed from the last RAE, which was in 2001. Ratings now go from 1* to 4* (not 1 to 5*), and rather than a department receiving a single rating, the distribution of research within any given department across all four ratings is expressed.

Because of the many variables, there are several differing ‘league tables’ in circulation produced by different newspapers and publications, each of which uses a different method of ranking universities by RAE results. The University of Oxford has topped those league tables which factor in the number of researchers assessed, thus providing an assessment of quality and power (for example, Research Fortnight).

Of all Oxford research admitted, 32 per cent was rated 4* (world leading), while 70 per cent was rated either 4* or 3* (world-leading or internationally excellent).