Research quality
How research at University of Leeds 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
153.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
86% world-class
2. Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care
49.6 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
90% world-class
3. Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy
63.1 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
95% world-class
4. Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience
49.6 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
87% world-class
5. Biological Sciences
84.9 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
88% world-class
6. Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Sciences
29.4 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
86% world-class
7. Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences
127.2 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
96% world-class
8. Chemistry
40.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
96% world-class
9. Physics
34.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
99% world-class
10. Mathematical Sciences
72.1 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
98% world-class
11. Computer Science and Informatics
34.3 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
99% world-class
12. Engineering
199.4 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
97% world-class
14. Geography and Environmental Studies
60.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
93% world-class
17. Business and Management Studies
144.5 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
90% world-class
18. Law
60.3 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
92% world-class
19. Politics and International Studies
42.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
89% world-class
21. Sociology
32.2 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
80% world-class
23. Education
29.1 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
81% world-class
24. Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism
25.3 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
95% world-class
26. Modern Languages and Linguistics
85.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
79% world-class
27. English Language and Literature
48.7 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
95% world-class
28. History
40.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
74% world-class
30. Philosophy
33.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
74% world-class
31. Theology and Religious Studies
12.6 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
91% world-class
32. Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
60.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
81% world-class
33. Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies
40.6 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
88% world-class
34. Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management
32.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
93% world-class
Source: REF 2021 results