REF2014 HE results and analysis
Higher education results, rankings, commentaries and editorials
HE results
The results of the Research Excellence Framework 2014 (REF2014), carried out by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), were published on 18 December 2014.
They highlighted that all areas submitted by Plymouth University included world-leading research, achieving the highest rating possible - scoring four stars.
Resources for internal staff and students
A full version of the results table, and our internal results analysis, is available to our researchers on the University's intranet (log in required).
| Classification | Overall quality profile description |
|---|---|
| 4* | World-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour |
| 3* | Internationally excellent in terms of originality, significance and rigour but which nonetheless falls short of the highest standards of excellence |
| 2* | Recognised internationally in terms of originality, significance and rigour |
| 1* | Recognised nationally in terms of originality, significance and rigour |
| U/C Unclassified | Work not meeting published definition of research for the purposes of the REF or which falls below national standards |
REF2014 news
- Plymouth University to receive increased funding for research 27 March 2015
- National recognition for Plymouth University medical research 29 January 2015
- Plymouth recognised for world-leading clinical medicine research 18 December 2014
- From medicine to music - world-class research across the board at Plymouth University 18 December 2014
Rankings
Understanding what these results mean, for HE institutions in terms of future research funding in the UK, is best demonstrated using rankings.
Research Fortnight and Times Higher Education have applied their own sector analysis to produce rankings that have been used by universities:
Research Fortnight
- League table: Institutions ranked by power rating*
Part 1 (rank 1-77) and Part 2 (rank 78-154)
- REF 2014: Results and preliminary analysis - quality and power rankings
Unit of assessment tables
Times Higher Education (THE)
- REF 2014 results: table of excellence
- REF 2014 results: by subject
Leading commentaries and editorials
For further information on the latest findings from the results analysed:
- Research Fortnight Research Fortnight's REF Special issue*
- Times Higher Education REF 2014 winners: who performed best?
- Guardian HE Network Ref 2014: which subjects are producing the best research?
Social media
For updates and reactions follow these Twitter accounts:
