The University of Sheffield
Research, business and partnerships

RAE2008 performance

Top ten for research power

The University of Sheffield is among the top ten in the Russell Group, the association of leading UK research-intensive universities, according to the results of the independent 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). This is an independent review of research quality undertaken by the UK Funding Councils, and is used by them to selectively distribute over £1.3bn of public funds for research. The RAE provides quality ratings for all disciplines in all UK universities.

Our quality, breadth and volume of research activity is demonstrated by the fact that the research carried out by 93% of our submitted academic staff was internationally recognised and in many cases world-leading. 41 of our 49 submissions had 50% or more of their work assessed as 4* and 3*. We are also among one of only ten universities in the country that submitted to more than 40 Units of Assessment, with over 90% of our eligible staff included in the RAE.

A significant number of our departments are ranked in the top ten for their Unit of Assessment. The following departments achieved this distinction when ranked by the proportion of the total profile at each quality level.

The full results for Sheffield are detailed below:

Unit of Assessment FTE Cat A staff submitted 4* 3* 2* 1* UC
1 Cardiovascular Medicine 22.00 0 25 65 10 0
2 Cancer Studies 34.85 5 55 40 0 0
3 Infection and Immunology 18.00 5 40 50 5 0
4 Other Hospital Based Clinical Subjects 54.36 5 55 30 10 0
7A School of Health and Related Research 56.17 20 35 35 10 0
9 Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology 20.00 10 30 50 10 0
10 Dentistry 31.40 15 55 25 5 0
11 Nursing and Midwifery 13.00 15 35 35 10 5
12 Allied Health Professions and Studies 12.90 20 30 25 20 5
14 Biological Sciences 70.50 20 50 25 5 0
17 Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences 19.20 15 50 30 5 0
18 Chemistry 33.70 15 55 30 0 0
19 Physics 31.50 20 40 35 5 0
20 Pure Mathematics 17.25 15 40 45 0 0
21 Applied Mathematics 17.00 10 35 50 5 0
22 Statistics and Operational Research 10.70 10 50 30 10 0
23 Computer Science and Informatics 34.00 15 50 30 5 0
24 Electrical and Electronic Engineering A - Automatic Control and Systems Engineering 18.00 25 40 30 5 0
24 Electrical and Electronic Engineering B - Electronic and Electrical Engineering 38.00 15 45 35 5 0
26 Chemical Engineering 20.00 15 40 40 5 0
27 Civil Engineering 28.70 20 65 15 0 0
28 Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering 30.20 30 45 20 5 0
29 Metallurgy and Materials 38.40 15 50 35 0 0
30 Architecture and the Built Environment A - Architecture 19.60 35 35 25 5 0
30 Architecture and the Built Environment B - Landscape 12.00 20 55 25 0 0
31 Town and Country Planning 17.00 35 30 30 5 0
32 Geography and Environmental Studies 32.90 20 50 25 5 0
33 Archaeology 27.00 25 35 30 10 0
34 Economics and Econometrics 15.00 15 55 25 5 0
36 Business and Management Studies 43.30 15 45 35 5 0
37 Library and Information Management 22.20 30 35 25 10 0
38 Law 31.58 15 35 35 15 0
39 Politics and International Studies 25.00 45 30 20 5 0
40 Social Work and Social Policy & Administration 26.60 20 45 30 5 0
44 Psychology 40.45 15 45 35 5 0
45 Education 24.20 15 25 45 15 0
49 Asian Studies 22.00 5 25 40 25 5
51 Russian, Slavonic and East European Languages 8.00 25 45 20 10 0
52 French 14.00 25 25 35 15 0
53 German, Dutch and Scandinavian Languages 9.00 10 20 45 20 5
55 Iberian and Latin American Languages 9.00 25 30 25 15 5
57 English Language and Literature 42.00 30 25 40 5 0
58 Linguistics 13.50 20 40 30 10 0
60 Philosophy 19.00 35 35 30 0 0
61 Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies 8.00 20 45 35 0 0
62 History 29.00 35 30 25 10 0
66 Communication, Cultural and Media Studies 7.00 5 50 10 30 5
67 Music 12.40 45 35 20 0 0

The results are presented in the form of a quality profile, with proportions of work being judged to meet the following five quality levels: