Research quality
How research at University of Exeter 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
69.6 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
93% world-class
2. Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care
59.9 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
89% world-class
3. Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy
12.5 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
92% world-class
4. Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience
48.3 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
92% world-class
5. Biological Sciences
99.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
90% world-class
7. Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences
78.1 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
90% world-class
9. Physics
49.4 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
93% world-class
10. Mathematical Sciences
48.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
94% world-class
11. Computer Science and Informatics
27.9 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
83% world-class
12. Engineering
78.6 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
92% world-class
14. Geography and Environmental Studies
61.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
91% world-class
15. Archaeology
16.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
94% world-class
16. Economics and Econometrics
37.7 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
89% world-class
17. Business and Management Studies
79.1 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
92% world-class
18. Law
52.9 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
81% world-class
19. Politics and International Studies
58.3 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
86% world-class
21. Sociology
49.6 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
82% world-class
23. Education
38.4 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
82% world-class
24. Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism
33.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
99% world-class
25. Area Studies
24.1 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
89% world-class
26. Modern Languages and Linguistics
44.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
83% world-class
27. English Language and Literature
73.7 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
88% world-class
28. History
60.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
90% world-class
29. Classics
21.6 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
84% world-class
31. Theology and Religious Studies
11.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
87% world-class
33. Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies
16.7 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
84% world-class
Source: REF 2021 results