Research quality
How research at University of Reading 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
3. Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy
54.9 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
81% world-class
4. Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience
44.9 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
87% world-class
5. Biological Sciences
15.7 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
66% world-class
6. Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Sciences
77.2 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
80% world-class
7. Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences
83.9 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
97% world-class
8. Chemistry
15.9 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
87% world-class
10. Mathematical Sciences
19.4 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
98% world-class
11. Computer Science and Informatics
10.4 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
81% world-class
13. Architecture, Built Environment and Planning
58.9 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
94% world-class
15. Archaeology
18.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
96% world-class
17. Business and Management Studies
100.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
86% world-class
18. Law
27.5 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
72% world-class
19. Politics and International Studies
16.6 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
92% world-class
22. Anthropology and Development Studies
19.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
91% world-class
23. Education
12.6 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
77% world-class
26. Modern Languages and Linguistics
24.7 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
83% world-class
27. English Language and Literature
28.0 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
84% world-class
28. History
16.8 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
73% world-class
29. Classics
12.5 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
80% world-class
30. Philosophy
7.3 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
70% world-class
32. Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
21.4 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
86% world-class
33. Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies
12.6 full-time-equivalent academics submitted research
83% world-class
Source: REF 2021 results