St Mary’s Highest Riser in Times Higher Education Research Excellence Rankings

Analysis from the Times Higher Education (THE) has found that St Mary’s University, Twickenham is the highest riser in their league table following the publication of the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF).

The REF league table published today in THE found that St Mary’s was the highest riser in the overall grade point average (GPA) rankings, climbing 32 places since 2014 to sit in the top 100. The University also saw a rise of 28 places for its Output GPA rating to sit 83^rd on the rankings.

In the subject league tables, the University rose in all units of assessment in which it made submissions, with Sport and Exercise Science, Leisure and Tourism rising 37 places to sit in 22^nd place.

Speaking of the ranking, St Mary’s Vice-Chancellor Anthony McClaran said, “We are delighted to be the highest riser in the Times Higher Education overall REF rankings. The results that our brilliant researchers achieved in the REF were outstanding and this is a further endorsement of their work, which is helping to bring about real change and contributing to the common good locally, nationally and globally.”

The REF results, published today, showed that the majority of research submitted by St Mary’s is 4* World Leading or 3* Internationally Excellent in its originality, significance, and rigour.

St Mary’s more than doubled its research rated by the REF in the top two three- and four-star classifications as compared to the previous research exercise in 2014. St Mary’s also increased the number of eligible staff who submitted research in the REF by almost 30%. In most submitted units, St Mary’s research environment shifted from having International Recognition in 2014 to being considered as Internationally Excellent, with some areas also recognised as World-Leading.

The REF is the UK’s system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. It judges higher education institutions based on the quality of their research output, impact, and academic environment. Ratings are from 4* (World Leading) to 0* (Unclassified).