Research quality

How research at University of Liverpool 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

190.2 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

91% world-class

2. Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care

43.4 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

97% world-class

4. Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience

60.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

88% world-class

6. Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Sciences

102.4 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

93% world-class

7. Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences

33.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

96% world-class

8. Chemistry

43.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

99% world-class

9. Physics

44.4 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

99% world-class

10. Mathematical Sciences

53.4 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

92% world-class

11. Computer Science and Informatics

40.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

88% world-class

12. Engineering

92.6 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

96% world-class

13. Architecture, Built Environment and Planning

31.1 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

95% world-class

14. Geography and Environmental Studies

52.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

82% world-class

15. Archaeology

35.6 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

87% world-class

17. Business and Management Studies

129.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

91% world-class

18. Law

57.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

86% world-class

19. Politics and International Studies

27.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

78% world-class

20. Social Work and Social Policy

29.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

88% world-class

26. Modern Languages and Linguistics

25.9 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

92% world-class

27. English Language and Literature

42.4 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

94% world-class

28. History

32.3 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

85% world-class

30. Philosophy

13.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

76% world-class

33. Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies

18.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

79% world-class

34. Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management

28.6 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

89% world-class

Source: REF 2021 results