Research Assessment Exercise
RAE 2008 ranks the Department first in the UK
The results of the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise ranked the Department of Politics at Sheffield first equal of all departments of politics and international studies in the UK.
These results followed a peer review of research between 2001 and 2008 conducted by the UK higher education funding councils for all subjects. The results were published in December 2008.
The results:
30% of research work in the Department was rated at 3* (Internationally excellent)
20% of research work in the Department was rated at 2* (recognised internationally)
5% of research work in the Department was rated at 1* (recognised nationally)
The grade point averages of the top departments are:
1 – University of Essex, 3.15
3 – Aberystwyth University, 2.95
4 – University of Oxford, 2.85
5 – London School of Economics and Political Science, 2.80
The grade point averages are based on the proportions of research at various standards.
Here are the results for the proportion of research rated at 4* and 3*:
1 – University of Essex, 75%
3 – Aberystwyth University, 65%
3 – University College London, 65%
5 – University of Oxford, 60%
5 – London School of Economics and Political Science, 60%
5 – School of Oriental and African Studies, 60%
5 – University of Warwick, 60%
For grade 4*, alone, the results are:
1 – University of Essex, 45%
3 – Aberystwyth University, 40%
4 – University of Oxford, 35%
5 – London School of Economics and Political Science, 30%
The Guardian has a league table of politics and international studies departments.
In the previous RAE in 2001, conducted using a different metric, the Department was one of five departments to receive a 5*, the highest possible grade.