Research Assessment Exercise at Essex
The University of Essex is ranked ninth in the UK for the quality of our
research according to the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE, 2008) – the UK-wide
review of higher education research.
This means our students learn from academics who are recognised
internationally for the high quality of their research work and our
university is at the forefront of researching the important issues facing
our world.
The RAE has consistently shown Essex to be among the leading universities
for research. Overall 22 per cent of Essex research is ranked as
‘world-leading’ and over 90 per cent is recognised internationally for its
quality.
Number one for social sciences
Essex re-confirmed its place as the UK’s leading university for the
social sciences in the 2008 RAE.
In Politics 45 per cent of research received the highest 4-star ranking –
meaning it is viewed as world-leading in terms of originality, significance
and rigour.
In Economics 40 per cent was classed as 4-star.
In Sociology while 35 per cent of research was classed as 4-star.
Other research strengths
Essex was ranked in the top 10 nationally for:
World-leading research at Essex
One hundred per cent of the Economics research was judged to be
internationally-recognised, meaning it was ranked as 2-star or above.
95 per cent of research was internationally recognised in Accounting and
Finance, History, Psychology, Philosophy, Computer Science and English
Language and Literature.
More information about the
University of Essex performance in the 2008
RAE.
Information about the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE)
The RAE is a UK-wide review of higher education research which is carried
out by the Higher Education Funding Council for England.
When the last RAE was carried out in 2008:
- more than 150
universities and colleges in the UK took part;
- research by more than
52,000 academics was submitted; and
- more than 1,000 experts
assessed the research.
Each subject area is given a quality profile showing the percentage of
research activity judged to have reached each of the quality standards
ranging from 4-star for research of world-leading quality, through 3-star
and 2-star for research recognised internationally, to 1-star for quality
that is recognised nationally. Research falling below this was unclassified.
Additional elements for Main Text Area e.g. Pull-out quotes, block
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"These outstanding results reconfirm Essex’s position as one of
the best research universities in the UK. Although a relatively small
university, Essex has demonstrated world-leading research quality across a
broad range of subjects. This expertise will continue to be applied both to
teaching our students from around the world and addressing global
challenges." Professor Colin Riordan, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Essex