REF 2021 results
The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 measured research quality across UK higher education institutions.
The University of Manchester produced 31 submissions to 29 units of assessment. Each submission was awarded an overall quality profile, showing the proportion of the submission that met each of the following starred levels.
- 4*
- Quality that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour.
- 3*
- Quality that is internationally excellent in terms of originality, significance and rigour but which falls short of the highest standards of excellence.
- 2*
- Quality that is recognised internationally in terms of originality, significance and rigour.
- 1*
- Quality that is recognised nationally in terms of originality, significance and rigour.
- Unclassified
- Quality that falls below the standard of nationally recognised work. Or work which does not meet the published definition of research for the purposes of this assessment.
The overall quality profile was calculated from individual quality profiles for outputs (60%), impact (25%) and environment (15%).
Use the Expand buttons to expand each profile and view the individual quality profiles for outputs, impact and environment.
Unit of assessment |
Profile |
% of the submission meeting the standard for: |
FTE Category A staff |
4* |
3* |
2* |
1* |
U |
1 |
Clinical Medicine |
Overall
|
52 |
37 |
10 |
0 |
1 |
221.06 |
|
|
Outputs |
37.4 |
44.5 |
15.9 |
1.1 |
1.1 |
|
|
|
Impact |
72.7 |
27.3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
75.0 |
25.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
2 |
Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care |
Overall
|
55 |
31 |
11 |
0 |
3 |
85.60 |
|
|
Outputs |
42.5 |
46.8 |
5.6 |
0.0 |
5.1 |
|
|
|
Impact |
64.3 |
7.1 |
28.6 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
87.5 |
12.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
3 |
Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy |
Overall
|
63 |
33 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
125.52 |
|
|
Outputs |
47.5 |
48.4 |
3.1 |
0.7 |
0.3 |
|
|
|
Impact |
77.8 |
16.6 |
5.6 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
100 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
4 |
Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience |
Overall
|
54 |
35 |
8 |
1 |
2 |
94.72 |
|
|
Outputs |
35.9 |
45.5 |
14.0 |
1.6 |
3.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
85.7 |
14.3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
75.0 |
25.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
5 |
Biological Sciences |
Overall
|
61 |
34 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
143.05 |
|
|
Outputs |
54.7 |
37.5 |
7.0 |
0.2 |
0.6 |
|
|
|
Impact |
61.1 |
38.9 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
87.5 |
12.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
7 |
Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences |
Overall
|
60 |
39 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
70.78 |
|
|
Outputs |
49.2 |
49.1 |
1.7 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
75.0 |
25.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
75.0 |
25.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
8 |
Chemistry |
Overall
|
63 |
37 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
76.20 |
|
|
Outputs |
58.9 |
40.5 |
0.6 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
50.0 |
50.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
100.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
9 |
Physics |
Overall
|
66 |
32 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
87.00 |
|
|
Outputs |
49.1 |
47.2 |
3.7 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
85.7 |
14.3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
100.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
10 |
Mathematical Sciences |
Overall
|
55 |
44 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
89.95 |
|
|
Outputs |
46.0 |
53.1 |
0.9 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
57.1 |
42.9 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
87.5 |
12.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
11 |
Computer Science and Informatics |
Overall
|
62 |
37 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
53.10 |
|
|
Outputs |
48.9 |
48.8 |
2.3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
70.0 |
30.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
100.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
12 |
Engineering |
Overall
|
52 |
44 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
311.31 |
|
|
Outputs |
37.5 |
58.0 |
3.7 |
0.8 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
57.7 |
38.5 |
3.8 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
100.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
13 |
Architecture, Built Environment and Planning |
Overall
|
48 |
45 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
27.60 |
|
|
Outputs |
49.3 |
46.4 |
4.3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
50.0 |
33.3 |
16.7 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
37.5 |
62.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
14 |
Geography and Environmental Studies |
Overall
|
32 |
60 |
7 |
1 |
0 |
36.30 |
|
|
Outputs |
38.5 |
51.6 |
8.8 |
1.1 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
12.5 |
87.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
37.5 |
50.0 |
12.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
16 |
Economics and Econometrics |
Overall
|
41 |
54 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
35.95 |
|
|
Outputs |
26.7 |
65.5 |
7.8 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
62.5 |
37.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
62.5 |
37.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
17 |
Business and Management Studies |
Overall
|
58 |
33 |
8 |
1 |
0 |
163.10 |
|
|
Outputs |
42.8 |
44.8 |
10.9 |
1.5 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
75.0 |
20.0 |
5.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
87.5 |
12.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
18 |
Law |
Overall
|
27 |
55 |
18 |
0 |
0 |
52.80 |
|
|
Outputs |
28.0 |
45.5 |
25.7 |
0.8 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
40.0 |
60.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
0.0 |
87.5 |
12.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
19 |
Politics and International Studies |
Overall
|
49 |
46 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
51.70 |
|
|
Outputs |
57.3 |
33.6 |
8.2 |
0.9 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
30.0 |
70.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
50.0 |
50.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
21 |
Sociology |
Overall
|
59 |
33 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
55.80 |
|
|
Outputs |
51.9 |
35.1 |
12.2 |
0.8 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
50.0 |
50.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
100.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
22A |
Development Studies |
Overall
|
58 |
33 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
41.85 |
|
|
Outputs |
40.2 |
45.4 |
14.4 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
75.0 |
25.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
100.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
22B |
Social Anthropology |
Overall
|
39 |
54 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
23.40 |
|
|
Outputs |
46.0 |
50.0 |
4.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
0.0 |
83.3 |
16.7 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
75.0 |
25.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
23 |
Education |
Overall
|
61 |
26 |
11 |
2 |
0 |
31.70 |
|
|
Outputs |
41.8 |
36.7 |
17.7 |
3.8 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
83.3 |
16.7 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
100.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
25 |
Area Studies |
Overall
|
45 |
30 |
23 |
2 |
0 |
16.00 |
|
|
Outputs |
37.8 |
40.6 |
18.9 |
2.7 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
50.0 |
0.0 |
50.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
65.0 |
35.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
26 |
Modern Languages and Linguistics |
Overall
|
49 |
42 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
54.25 |
|
|
Outputs |
41.2 |
43.4 |
14.7 |
0.7 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
70.0 |
30.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
45.0 |
55.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
27 |
English Language and Literature |
Overall
|
57 |
38 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
41.35 |
|
|
Outputs |
40.8 |
50.5 |
8.7 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
75.0 |
25.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
90.0 |
10.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
28 |
History |
Overall
|
59 |
32 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
44.00 |
|
|
Outputs |
50.9 |
33.6 |
15.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
75.0 |
25.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
62.5 |
37.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
29 |
Classics |
Overall
|
58 |
30 |
11 |
1 |
0 |
18.40 |
|
|
Outputs |
50.0 |
37.0 |
10.8 |
2.2 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
100.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
20.0 |
52.5 |
27.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
30 |
Philosophy |
Overall
|
44 |
46 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
16.05 |
|
|
Outputs |
22.5 |
60.0 |
17.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
75.0 |
25.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
77.5 |
22.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
31 |
Theology and Religious Studies |
Overall
|
28 |
46 |
26 |
0 |
0 |
11.30 |
|
|
Outputs |
25.0 |
42.9 |
32.1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
50.0 |
25.0 |
25.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
0.0 |
100.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
32 |
Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory |
Overall
|
64 |
27 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
14.00 |
|
|
Outputs |
45.5 |
39.3 |
15.2 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
100.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
77.5 |
22.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
33A |
Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies |
Overall
|
76 |
18 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
15.00 |
|
|
Outputs |
63.2 |
26.3 |
7.9 |
2.6 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
100.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
90.0 |
10.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
33B |
Music |
Overall
|
58 |
34 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
15.00 |
|
|
Outputs |
47.4 |
39.4 |
13.2 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Impact |
75.0 |
25.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Environment |
75.0 |
25.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|