Latest news from Loughborough University

19 Dec 2014

REF 2014: Updated methodology positions Loughborough as a top-10 university in England

The Times Higher Education has ranked Loughborough University 14th in the UK and 9th amongst English universities in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) for research intensity.

The THE’s ranking takes account of those staff who were eligible to be submitted to the REF but whose institutions chose not to include them in the exercise.

The new ranking comes a day after the Research Excellence Framework revealed a 37% increase in the proportion of the University’s research considered to be “world-leading”.

Loughborough’s Vice Chancellor Professor Bob Allison said: “The combination of a significant increase in the proportion of our research deemed world leading, and high, inclusive submission rate, evidences our claim to be one the UK’s premier research universities where students can be assured that their courses involve staff at the cutting edge of their intellectual disciplines.”

The top 20 research intensive universities, according to the THE’s new ranking can be seen below and on the THE’s website:

Rank

Institution

REF Grade Point Average results weighted for intensity

1

Institute   of Cancer Research

  3.25

2

University   of Cambridge

  3.17

3

Imperial   College London

  3.09

4

University   College London

  2.94

=5

University   of Bristol

  2.90

=5

University   of Oxford

  2.90

7

London   School of Economics and Political Science

  2.84

=8

Queen’s   University Belfast

  2.83

=8

University   of Southampton

  2.83

10

University   of the Highlands and Islands

  2.76

11

University   of Warwick

  2.69

=12

London   School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London

  2.65

=12

University of Edinburgh

  2.65

14

Loughborough   University

  2.61

15

University   of Glasgow

  2.60

16

University   of St Andrews

  2.58

17

King’s   College London

  2.57

18

University   of Strathclyde

  2.56

=19

University   of Exeter

  2.52

=19

University   of Kent

  2.52

=19

University   of Reading

  2.52

 

 

Notes for editors

Article reference number: December News

  1. The Research Excellence Framework is the system through which the quality of research in all subject areas in UK higher education institutions is assessed. It is undertaken approximately every six years by the four UK higher education funding bodies.

    Measures of research intensity take account of the proportion of eligible staff submitted to the REF as well the results of those submitted. Alternative measures that have been published by commentators this week include REF grade point average scores (which do not take account of the proportions submitted) and REF Research Power (which takes account of the volume of research submitted by an institution but not the proportion eligible).

  2. About Loughborough University

    Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

    It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, putting it among the best universities in the world, and was named Sports University of the Year 2013-14 by The Times and Sunday Times. Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and has been voted England's Best Student Experience for six years running in the Times Higher Education league. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

    In 2015 the University will open an additional academic campus in London’s new innovation quarter. Loughborough University in London, based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will offer postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities.