Research quality
How research at University of Cambridge 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
363.4 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
95% world-class
2. Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care
99.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
97% world-class
4. Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience
150.7 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
93% world-class
5. Biological Sciences
246.1 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
96% world-class
6. Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Sciences
51.9 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
91% world-class
7. Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences
46.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
99% world-class
8. Chemistry
77.2 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
98% world-class
9. Physics
148.2 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
99% world-class
10. Mathematical Sciences
152.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
99% world-class
11. Computer Science and Informatics
80.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
94% world-class
12. Engineering
255.5 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
99% world-class
13. Architecture, Built Environment and Planning
46.3 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
98% world-class
14. Geography and Environmental Studies
48.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
96% world-class
15. Archaeology
47.1 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
92% world-class
16. Economics and Econometrics
48.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
96% world-class
17. Business and Management Studies
61.2 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
94% world-class
18. Law
113.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
87% world-class
19. Politics and International Studies
48.5 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
87% world-class
21. Sociology
31.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
94% world-class
22. Anthropology and Development Studies
39.6 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
79% world-class
23. Education
59.3 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
88% world-class
25. Area Studies
43.6 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
82% world-class
26. Modern Languages and Linguistics
115.3 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
85% world-class
27. English Language and Literature
104.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
86% world-class
28. History
135.5 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
80% world-class
29. Classics
58.1 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
81% world-class
30. Philosophy
72.6 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
83% world-class
31. Theology and Religious Studies
42.9 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
87% world-class
32. Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
34.4 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
92% world-class
33. Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies
26.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
95% world-class
Source: REF 2021 results