Research Assessment Exercise 2008

The University of St Andrews is one of the leading research institutions in the United Kingdom, according to the results of the 2008 UK Research Assessment Exercise published today.

RAE 2008 reveals that:

*    The University of St Andrews has emerged as 14th in the UK for the quality of all its research across Science and the Arts and has significantly expanded its complement of world class research.

*    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 numbers of research active staff by 40% since 2001.

*    Key research strengths at St Andrews in which over a quarter of research activity is deemed to be world leading include Anthropology, Applied Mathematics, Chemistry (joint submission with University of Edinburgh), English Language and Literature, Film Studies, Philosophy and Physics & Astronomy.

*    In 2001, 10% of St Andrews RAE submissions were assessed at the highest level. In 2008, the University has increased the proportion of its research assessed at the highest level to 19%.

Principal and Vice-Chancellor Dr Brian Lang said: “The results of RAE 2008 are a credit to St Andrews, to the considerable talents and expertise of our staff and to the growth in quality and standing of Scottish research.

“It confirms that St Andrews remains one of the best and most research intensive universities in the UK and one of the most active in that spectrum of research deemed world leading or excellent by international standards. Particularly pleasing to me are the outstanding performances of Philosophy and Physics & Astronomy in St Andrews which have both emerged as 2nd top in the UK and the fact that across the spectrum we have grown the proportion of our research assessed at the highest level since the last RAE in 2001.

“The research and development activity of Scotland’s universities is fundamental to our future economic wellbeing and it is vital that we protect and nourish our research sector and make sure it remains internationally competitive. The benefits of pooling and a collaborative approach to research in Scotland are also underlined by the RAE.

“In particular, the success of the Scottish Funding Council backed research pooling initiative in Chemistry confirms that EaStCHEM, a collaboration between St Andrews and Edinburgh, is one of the top five Chemistry schools in the UK and produces 10% of the UK’s world leading research in Chemistry.”

ENDS

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT NIALL SCOTT ON 01334 462244 / 07711 223 062