Research quality

How research at University of Northampton 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

7.1 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

20% world-class

4. Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience

18.6 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

31% world-class

5. Biological Sciences

9.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

26% world-class

12. Engineering

20.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

31% world-class

14. Geography and Environmental Studies

11.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

36% world-class

16. Economics and Econometrics

8.5 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

5% world-class

17. Business and Management Studies

23.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

47% world-class

21. Sociology

9.6 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

17% world-class

23. Education

15.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

50% world-class

27. English Language and Literature

8.7 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

79% world-class

28. History

8.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

71% world-class

32. Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory

10.6 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research

49% world-class

Source: REF 2021 results