On a measurement of ‘research power’ — which takes into account both quality of research and the number of research-active staff who made returns to the RAE — The University of Nottingham is 7th in the UK according to independent analysis by Research Fortnight. This represents a rise of seven places since the 2001 RAE, the biggest increase in the top 20.

‘Research power’ is an important measure because it gives an excellent indication of international impact and critical mass (in terms of synergies that result from large numbers of researchers working in close proximity) and sustainability.

The Research Fortnight super-panel for all of the Physical Sciences and Engineering shows Nottingham 4th in the UK, after Cambridge, Oxford and Imperial.

RAE 2008 shows the strength of research at The University of Nottingham in both depth and breadth, with an overall 91 per cent participation rate among academic staff and more than half of departments making a 100 per cent return. More than 1,400 staff submitted their research for RAE 2008, which is an increase of 400 compared to the 2001 RAE.

The University of Nottingham submitted returns in 47 subject areas — more than most other UK institutions and a 12 per cent increase on its 2001 submission — underlining its status as a comprehensive university.

Twenty-seven of the University’s submissions feature in the UK ‘Top Ten’ when ranked by research power: American and Canadian Studies; Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science; Pharmacy; Economics and Econometrics; French and Francophone Studies; German Studies; Iberian and Latin American Languages; Applied Mathematics; Nursing and Midwifery; Russian and Slavonic Studies; Civil Engineering; Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering; Law; Architecture and the Built Environment; Chemistry; Geography; Education; Business and Management Studies; Physics and Astronomy; Hospital-based Clinical Subjects; Epidemiology and Public Health; Primary Care and other Community-Based Clinical Subjects; Asian Studies; Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology; Biomedical Sciences; Laboratory-based Clinical Subjects; and Politics and International Relations.

The results of RAE 2008 place The University of Nottingham firmly in the top tier of the world’s elite higher education institutions. On the ‘research power’ ranking, the only UK institutions ahead of Nottingham at the top of the table are Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, Edinburgh and Manchester.

Professor David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor, said: “This is a tremendous achievement for Nottingham and confirms our status as a global research-intensive university. Research power is a key metric because it factors in the number of FTEs submitted — giving a clear indication of the sheer scale, depth and sustainability of research activity at Nottingham.

“The results are a tribute to the talent and dedication of the university’s academic community and the continued excellence of their work. They are also an endorsement of sustained investment in our research base over many years. This gives an even firmer foundation for going forward as we continue to develop our research excellence in the next phase.”


Faculty breakdown

In the Faculty of Engineering, 97 per cent of research is of international standard, with more than 75 per cent graded as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. Half of the UoAs submitted were in the top five by research power.

In the Faculty of Science, 96 per cent of research is of international standard, with more than 67 per cent graded as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. More than half of the UoAs submitted were in the top 10 by research power.

In the Faculty of Arts, more than 90 per cent of research is of international standard, with almost 60 per cent graded as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. Five of the UoAs submitted were in the top five by research power.

In the Faculty of Social Sciences, Law and Education, more than 90 per cent of research is of international standard, with more than 60 per cent graded as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. Nine out of 11 of the UoAs submitted were in the top 10 by research power.

In the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 88 per cent of research is of international standard, with more than 40 per cent graded as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. Seven out of 10 of the UoAs submitted were in the top 10 by research power.

Overall, more than 90 per cent of the research carried out at The University of Nottingham is recognised on the international stage, with rankings of 4*, 3* or 2*.


Background

RAE 2008 divides academic research into 67 subject areas, or ‘Units of Assessment’ (UoAs). Each UoA submitted by a university is graded according to the proportion of staff judged to be carrying out research at one of five levels of quality: 4*, 3*, 2*, 1* and unclassified.

Four-star denotes research quality that is ‘world-leading’ in terms of originality, significance and rigour; three-star denotes work that is ‘internationally excellent’ in the same terms; two-star for work that is ‘recognised internationally’; and one-star for work that is ‘recognised nationally’.

Research awards to the University in the year ending August 2008 reached a record £130m, funding hundreds of research projects across the academic spectrum. These awards come from a variety of sources including higher education funding bodies, research councils, industry, the UK government, charities and the European Union.

The results of RAE 2008 will inform the levels of funding allocated to UK universities by the four UK higher education funding bodies (for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland). Across the UK, 163 institutions took part in the exercise.

HEFCE, the Higher Education Funding Council for England, will announce the 2009-10 funding allocations for English institutions in early March 2009.

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Notes to editors: The University of Nottingham is ranked in the UK's Top 10 and the World's Top 100 universities by the Shanghai Jiao Tong (SJTU) and Times Higher (THE) World University Rankings.

It provides innovative and top quality teaching, undertakes world-changing research, and attracts talented staff and students from 150 nations. Described by The Times as Britain's "only truly global university", it has invested continuously in award-winning campuses in the United Kingdom, China and Malaysia. Twice since 2003 its research and teaching academics have won Nobel Prizes. The University has won the Queen's Award for Enterprise in both 2006 (International Trade) and 2007 (Innovation – School of Pharmacy), and was named ‘Entrepreneurial University of the Year’ at the Times Higher Education Awards 2008.

Its students are much in demand from 'blue-chip' employers. Winners of Students in Free Enterprise for four years in succession, and current holder of UK Graduate of the Year, they are accomplished artists, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, innovators and fundraisers. Nottingham graduates consistently excel in business, the media, the arts and sport. Undergraduate and postgraduate degree completion rates are amongst the highest in the United Kingdom.