Research quality
How research at University of Aberdeen 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
139.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
77% world-class
2. Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care
30.1 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
95% world-class
4. Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience
25.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
94% world-class
5. Biological Sciences
16.5 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
79% world-class
7. Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences
83.2 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
88% world-class
8. Chemistry
19.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
95% world-class
10. Mathematical Sciences
24.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
85% world-class
11. Computer Science and Informatics
15.5 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
92% world-class
12. Engineering
69.4 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
74% world-class
15. Archaeology
10.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
90% world-class
17. Business and Management Studies
62.9 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
81% world-class
18. Law
41.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
77% world-class
19. Politics and International Studies
19.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
58% world-class
21. Sociology
9.3 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
61% world-class
22. Anthropology and Development Studies
11.5 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
79% world-class
23. Education
15.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
50% world-class
26. Modern Languages and Linguistics
18.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
70% world-class
27. English Language and Literature
22.7 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
77% world-class
28. History
26.5 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
64% world-class
30. Philosophy
8.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
58% world-class
31. Theology and Religious Studies
19.4 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
96% world-class
33. Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies
10.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
58% world-class
Source: REF 2021 results