Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2008 results
The University of St Andrews has emerged as 14th in the UK and 2nd in Scotland for the quality of all its research across Science and the Arts according to the results of the 2008 UK Research Assessment Exercise published on 18 December 2008. The RAE 2008 has demonstrated that St Andrews has significantly expanded its complement of world class research since 2001. The University of St Andrews is in the Top 100 of the Times Higher Education World Universities Ranking.
RAE Scottish Results (by institution) (PDF, 11 KB)
Highlights
| UoA | Subject | % World Leading Research (4*) | UK Ranking | Position in Scotland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | Philosophy | 40 | 1st | Top in Scotland |
| 19 | Physics & Astronomy | 25 | 2nd | Top in Scotland |
| 53 | German | 20 | 2nd | Top in Scotland |
| 65 | Film Studies | 50 | 2nd | Top in Scotland |
| 18 | Chemistry (joint submission with the University of Edinburgh) |
30 | 4th | Top Equal Scotland |
| 21 | Applied Mathematics | 25 | 4th | Top in Scotland |
| 52 | French | 10 | 4th | Top Equal Scotland |
| 44 | Psychology | 20 | 7th | Top in Scotland |
| 57 | English | 35 | 8th | Second in Scotland |
- 94% of St Andrews' research activity is internationally recognised and 60% is world leading or internationally excellent.
- St Andrews submitted more than 92% of its academic staff for consideration in the RAE 2008, making it one of the most research intensive universities anywhere in the UK. St Andrews has increased its number of research active staff by 40% since 2001.
- The success of the Scottish Funding Council backed research pooling initiative in Chemistry confirms that EaStCHEM, a collaboration between St Andrews and Edinburgh which submitted jointly to RAE2008, is one of the top five Chemistry schools in the UK and produces 10% of the UK's world leading research in Chemistry.
- The Scottish Universities Physics Alliance (SUPA) achieved three departments in the top 10 in the UK for Physics, i.e. St Andrews 2nd equal, Edinburgh 6th and Glasgow 7th.
Results of RAE 2008
| Overall quality profile (percentage of research activity at each quality level) |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UoA | Subject | Staff | 4* | 3* | 2* | 1* | U |
| 5 | Other Laboratory Based Clinical Subjects | 7.50 | 15 | 25 | 35 | 25 | 0 |
| 14 | Biological Sciences | 45.50 | 10 | 40 | 45 | 5 | 0 |
| 18 | Chemistry (joint submission with the University of Edinburgh) | 33.00 | 30 | 40 | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Physics | 32.20 | 25 | 40 | 30 | 5 | 0 |
| 20 | Pure Mathematics | 12.00 | 5 | 30 | 55 | 10 | 0 |
| 21 | Applied Mathematics | 15.00 | 25 | 45 | 25 | 5 | 0 |
| 22 | Statistics and Operational Research | 7.00 | 10 | 50 | 35 | 5 | 0 |
| 23 | Computer Science and Informatics | 21.00 | 15 | 45 | 35 | 5 | 0 |
| 32 | Geography and Environmental Studies | 29.00 | 20 | 40 | 35 | 5 | 0 |
| 34 | Economics and Econometrics | 27.15 | 15 | 40 | 45 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | Business and Management Studies | 22.00 | 10 | 50 | 35 | 5 | 0 |
| 39 | Politics and International Studies | 27.00 | 10 | 35 | 35 | 20 | 0 |
| 42 | Anthropology | 11.66 | 25 | 30 | 30 | 15 | 0 |
| 44 | Psychology | 33.90 | 20 | 45 | 35 | 0 | 0 |
| 51 | Russian, Slavonic and East European Languages | 4.00 | 0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | 10 |
| 52 | French | 8.33 | 10 | 50 | 35 | 5 | 0 |
| 53 | German, Dutch and Scandinavian Languages | 5.00 | 20 | 40 | 25 | 15 | 0 |
| 54 | Italian | 4.00 | 5 | 25 | 45 | 25 | 0 |
| 55 | Iberian and Latin American Languages | 7.00 | 10 | 55 | 25 | 10 | 0 |
| 57 | English Language and Literature | 24.99 | 35 | 35 | 20 | 10 | 0 |
| 59 | Classics, Ancient History, Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies |
18.00 | 15 | 45 | 35 | 5 | 0 |
| 60 | Philosophy | 19.18 | 40 | 35 | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| 61 | Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies | 16.00 | 20 | 30 | 45 | 5 | 0 |
| 62 | History | 41.49 | 20 | 40 | 35 | 5 | 0 |
| 64 | History of Art, Architecture and Design | 14.20 | 15 | 60 | 15 | 10 | 0 |
| 65 | Drama, Dance and Performing Arts | 5.00 | 50 | 35 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
Explanation of terminology
- Research Assessment Exercise (RAE)
-
The most recent RAE was conducted in 2008 for all universities and colleges in the UK giving a quality rating for research across all disciplines in each Higher Education Institution (HEI). Assessment panels used a standard scale to award a rating for each submission. Ratings range from 0 to 4, according to how much of the work is judged to reach national or international levels of excellence.
The RAE provides benchmarks which are used by institutions in developing and managing their research strategies. Scottish HEIs receive a "Quality Research" (QR) grant as part of their annual block grant from the Scottish Funding Council based on the RAE outcome.
For more information see RAE 2008
- UoA
-
Unit of Assessment. This column gives the reference number used to identify the Unit of Assessment in the RAE documentation.
- Staff
-
The number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff submitted for assessment.
- Quality level 4*
-
Quality that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour.
- Quality level 3*
-
Quality that is internationally excellent in terms of originality, significance and rigour but which nonetheless falls short of the highest standards of excellence.
- Quality level 2*
-
Quality that is recognised internationally in terms of originality, significance and rigour.
- Quality level 1*
-
Quality that is recognised nationally in terms of originality, significance and rigour.
- Quality level U (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.