Research quality
How research at University of Essex 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
2. Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care
11.9 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
78% world-class
4. Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience
50.7 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
89% world-class
5. Biological Sciences
45.6 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
80% world-class
10. Mathematical Sciences
31.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
86% world-class
11. Computer Science and Informatics
73.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
91% world-class
16. Economics and Econometrics
52.1 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
97% world-class
17. Business and Management Studies
118.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
78% world-class
18. Law
81.9 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
86% world-class
19. Politics and International Studies
54.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
98% world-class
21. Sociology
62.4 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
88% world-class
24. Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism
24.1 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
85% world-class
26. Modern Languages and Linguistics
19.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
89% world-class
27. English Language and Literature
24.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
85% world-class
28. History
17.5 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
86% world-class
30. Philosophy
14.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
87% world-class
32. Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
9.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
90% world-class
33. Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies
12.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
65% world-class
Source: REF 2021 results