Research excellence

The University of St Andrews has consistently achieved high rankings for research quality in national assessment exercises.

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is a process of expert review for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions and is the successor to the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). Below you can find the University of St Andrews results from previous exercises.

REF 2021

According to REF 2021, more than 88% of research carried out by the University of St Andrews is world-leading or internationally excellent.

REF 2014

Across Science and the Arts, the University of St Andrews has emerged as top in Scotland and 14th in the UK for the quality of its research publications, according to the results of the 2014 REF.

RAE 2008

The University of St Andrews was placed 14th in the UK and second in Scotland for the quality of its research in the RAE 2008 results.

RAE 2001

The University of St Andrews topped the RAE 2001 league tables in Scotland and was placed in the top ten UK-wide.