REF 2021 results

View the results of our submission to the Research Excellence Framework: REF 2021, published on Thursday 12 May 2022.

Table of results

Here are the results for all 25 units of assessment (UoAs).

You can view a breakdown of scores within each UoA.

Sussex REF 2021 overall results

Unit of AssessmentSchoolFTE4*3*4*/3*GPA
(THE)
GPA
Rank
(THE)
1 – Clinical Medicine Brighton and Sussex Medical School 19.20 16 64 80 2.91 30
3 – Allied Health Professions Brighton and Sussex Medical School with the University of Brighton 63.90 39 46 85 3.22 31
4 – Psychology Psychiatry and Neuroscience Psychology 53.90 50 38 88 3.38 18
5 – Biological Sciences Life Sciences 63.80 35 59 94 3.28 22
8 – Chemistry Life Sciences 18.30 29 58 87 3.16 28
9 – Physics Mathematical and
Physical Sciences
42.70 42 52 94 3.35 26
10 – Mathematics Sciences Mathematical and 
Physical Sciences
22.00 35 60 95 3.3 26
11 – Computer Science and Informatics Engineering and
Informatics
26.90 47 49 96 3.43 22
12 – Engineering Engineering and
Informatics
26.20 11 74 85 2.94 48
14 – Geography and Environmental Studies Global Studies
(Geography)
32.05 45 49 94 3.38 13
16 – Economics and Econometrics University of Sussex
Business School
22.60 37 60 97 3.34 13
17 – Business and Management Studies University of Sussex
Business School
105.85 39 47 86 3.23 28
18 – Law Law, Politics
and Sociology
55.90 34 43 77 3.11 30
19 – Politics and International Studies Global Studies
(International
Relations)
29.25 44 47 91 3.35 13
20 – Social Work and Social Policy Education and
Social Work
15.00 23 72 95 3.18 26
21 – Sociology Law, Politics
and Sociology
18.50 45 40 85 3.28 12
22 – Anthropology and Development Studies Global Studies
(Anthropology)
26.80 41 51 92 3.33 7
23 – Education Education and
Social Work
20.60 57 31 88 3.44 12
25 – Area Studies Law, Politics and 
Sociology (Politics)
16.00 42 54 96 3.38 10
27 – English language and literature Media, Arts
and Humanities
(English)
39.00 58 36 94 3.52 14
28 – History Media, Arts
and Humanities
(History)
30.10 54 35 89 3.41 15
30 – Philosophy Media, Arts
and Humanities
(Philosophy)
12.00 37 48 85 3.22 14
32 – Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory Media, Arts
and Humanities
(Art History)
9.00 61 36 97 3.58 8
33 – Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies Media, Arts
and Humanities 
(Music, Drama)
15.00 35 52 87 3.19 34
34 – Communication, Cultural and Media Studies Media, Arts and Humanities (Media, Journalism & Cultural Studies; Film Studies; Creative & Critical Media Practice) 45.10 51 43 94 3.42 11
  • † = joint submission with University of Brighton: Total FTE of submitted staff for joint submission – 120
  • GPA (THE) and GPA Rank (THE) data from Times Higher Education (THE)

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Results by panel

View our combined overall results for the Units of Assessment within each of the main REF panels.

You can also view a breakdown of scores within each panel.

CategoryMeasureFTE4*3*U/C 4*/3*GPA
(THE)
University of Sussex
(All units)
Overall 885.75 40.6 48.4 0.3 89 3.28
Main panel A:
Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
(UoAs 1, 3, 4, 5)
Overall 116.51 38.6 48.9 0.5 87.5 3.25
Main panel B:
Physical Sciences, Engineering and Informatics
(UoAs 8, 9,10,11,12)
Overall 90.12 34.1 57.7 0 91.9 3.25
Main panel C:
Social Sciences
(UoAs 14, 16,17,18,19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
Overall 197.35 39.9 47.5 0.3 87.4 3.26
Main panel D:
Arts and Humanities
(UoAs 25, 27, 28, 30, 32, 33, 34)
Overall 119.3 50.4 41.8 0 92.2 3.41

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Key

  • Unit of Assessment – each subject area, defined by REF 2021, to which we made a submission
  • Department(s) – the primary University of Sussex Department (or School) who submitted to each Unit of Assessment
  • FTE – the combined ‘full-time equivalent’ of the set of staff submitted in each Unit of Assessment
  • 4* – four star: Quality that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour
  • 3* – three star: Quality that is internationally excellent in terms of originality, significance and rigour but which falls short of the highest standards of excellence
  • 2* – two star: Quality that is recognised internationally in terms of originality, significance and rigour
  • 1* – one star: Quality that is recognised nationally in terms of originality, significance and rigour
  • u/c – the percentage of research that was “unclassified”
  • GPA – (Grade Point Average) – a metric calculated by the Times Higher Education, and used in its rankings.

More

View and compare results for all UK HEI on the REF 2021 website.


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