Research quality
How research at Cardiff University was rated in the REF 2021 — the UK's official assessment of university research quality.
4★ research is world-leading; 3★ is internationally excellent; 2★ is internationally recognised; 1★ is nationally recognised. Each bar shows the percentage of research at each quality tier, broken down by subject area (Unit of Assessment).
- 4★ World-leading
- 3★ Internationally excellent
- 2★ Internationally recognised
- 1★ Nationally recognised
- Unclassified
1. Clinical Medicine
86.9 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
92% world-class
3. Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy
138.9 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
91% world-class
4. Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience
116.1 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
95% world-class
5. Biological Sciences
94.9 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
88% world-class
7. Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences
38.4 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
100% world-class
8. Chemistry
39.4 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
99% world-class
9. Physics
52.2 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
99% world-class
10. Mathematical Sciences
44.2 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
98% world-class
11. Computer Science and Informatics
45.5 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
96% world-class
12. Engineering
108.9 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
96% world-class
13. Architecture, Built Environment and Planning
32.3 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
96% world-class
14. Geography and Environmental Studies
56.6 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
78% world-class
15. Archaeology
16.5 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
94% world-class
17. Business and Management Studies
172.3 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
89% world-class
18. Law
49.2 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
83% world-class
19. Politics and International Studies
34.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
82% world-class
21. Sociology
49.7 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
87% world-class
23. Education
33.6 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
90% world-class
26. Modern Languages and Linguistics
34.5 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
84% world-class
27. English Language and Literature
64.6 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
92% world-class
28. History
48.5 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
73% world-class
33. Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies
17.2 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
76% world-class
34. Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management
31.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
95% world-class
Source: REF 2021 results