REF21
What is the REF?
The Research Excellence Framework is the UK's system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. It first took place in 2014, the last exercise was conducted in 2021 and the next REF is in 2029. The assessment provides rich information on the strengths of UK university research that will be helpful for businesses and other users of research to identify potential partners.
In REF21 Heriot-Watt was recognised for world-leading research in Physics; Mathematical Sciences; Engineering; and Architecture, Built Environment and Planning.
It was assessed top in Scotland for its world-leading (4*) Physics research. Physics also came top in the UK for its world-leading research outputs and saw 97% of its research classed as world-leading and internationally excellent.
Overall, 86.8% of the university's research and 88.6% of its research outputs were classed as 'world-leading' (4*) and 'internationally excellent' (3*).
Three joint submissions between Heriot-Watt and the University of Edinburgh - in Mathematical Sciences; Engineering; and Architecture, Built Environment and Planning - were ranked in the top four in the UK, based on the quality and breadth of the combined research, as defined in the Times Higher Education REF Power rankings.
This ranked Mathematical Sciences and Engineering first in Scotland and third in the UK, with Architecture, Built Environment and Planning coming first in Scotland and fourth in the UK.
Our achievements in the REF 2021 results reflect the marked growth in the influence of our specialist research, and the investment we are making into our global research capacity, which is integral to our Strategy 2025 theme of Excellence in Research and Enterprise.
The REF provides a robust and thorough assessment of the quality of universities' research in all disciplines, providing accountability for public investment in research and demonstrating the benefits of that investment.
In total, 157 UK universities participated, submitting over 76,000 academic staff. Submissions included research outputs, examples of the wider benefits of research and evidence about the research environment. This material was assessed by a series of expert panels comprising UK and international researchers, external users of research and experts in interdisciplinary research.
Overall, the panels judged 41 per cent of the submitted work to be world-leading and a further 43 percent to be internationally excellent.