REF 2021 - Lancaster University

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Graduation</a></li> <li><a href="/graduation/graduation-day/">Graduation Day</a></li> <li><a href="/graduation/when-will-i-graduate/">When Will I Graduate?</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/news/">News</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <div class="breadcrumb-wrapper show-for-large" data-more-information> <nav class="breadcrumb" aria-label="Breadcrumb"> <ol> <li> <a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/research/">Research</a></li> <li><a href="/research/ref-2021/">REF 2021</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="breadcrumb-wrapper hide-for-large" data-more-information> <nav class="breadcrumb" aria-label="Breadcrumb"> <ol> <li> <a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/research/">Research</a></li> <li><a href="/research/ref-2021/">REF 2021</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </div>  <main class="main-container " id="main" role="main">  <section class="hero-image landing"> <div class="wrapper"> <div class="content"> <h1>REF 2021</h1> <p>Lancaster University’s REF 2021 results confirm our position as delivering world-quality research.</p> </div> <picture> <source media="(max-width: 1023px)" width="1024" height="600" srcset="/media/lancaster-university/content-assets/images/research/doctoral-academy/Mobile-EngineeringLaboratory.jpg"> <source media="(min-width: 1024px)" width="1920" height="600" srcset="/media/lancaster-university/content-assets/images/research/doctoral-academy/Desktop-EngineeringLaboratory.jpg"> <img src="/media/lancaster-university/content-assets/images/research/doctoral-academy/Desktop-EngineeringLaboratory.jpg" alt="Three people work in an Engineering Laboratory." width="1920" height="600" loading="lazy" /> </picture> </div> </section>  <section class="intro-sentence"> <div class="grid-container"> <div class="anchor" id="d.en.520813"></div> <div class="grid-x grid-padding-x"> <div class="cell small-12"> <p> New evidence highlights outstanding quality of Lancaster research. </p> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="page-introduction grid-x"> <div class="anchor" id="d.en.520814"></div> <div class="large-offset-3 large-6 cell"> <p>91% of Lancaster's research has been independently rated as 'internationally excellent' or 'world leading' <strong>with 46% rated in the highest category of 4*.</strong></p> <p>The 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) assesses the quality and impact of research in UK universities across all subjects.</p> <p>Lancaster is 21st overall out of 157 institutions ranked by <a href="https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/ref-2021-research-excellence-framework-results-announced">Times Higher Education</a>. This places Lancaster above eight Russell Group universities for research quality.</p> <p>The results combine with Lancaster's strengths in teaching and investment in the student experience to reflect our distinctive university community, able to excel in teaching and research.</p> </div> </section>  <section class="bg-image right bg-primary-red"> <div id="d.en.521477"></div> <div class="panel-container"> <div class="headline-panel dark"> <h2>Lancaster's research environment</h2> <p>REF 2021 rated 99% of Lancaster's overall research environment as 4* 'world leading' or 3* 'internationally excellent'.</p> <p>This includes support and training of research students, research integrity, equality and diversity, as well as facilities available to support research.</p> </div> </div> <div class="image"> <img src="/media/lancaster-university/content-assets/images/home-page/2020-stairs-hero-image.jpg" loading="lazy" alt="" /> </div> </section>  <section class="stats bg-secondary-red hide-carousel-for-large" id="stats-panel-520811"> <section class="card-carousel foundation-carousel " aria-label="stats carousel" data-use-center-mode="false" data-foundation-carousel-id="520811" > <div class="anchor" id="d.en.520811"></div> <div id="article-carousel-wrapper-520811"> <div class="grid-container full"> <div class="grid-x article-carousel-wrapper"> <div class="cell medium-1 large-1 show-for-medium carousel-arrow-wrapper left"> <button class="hide-for-large carousel-arrow left-arrow" type="button"> <svg viewBox="0 0 15.29 15.29" width="50" height="50" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"> <path d="M10,2.14a7.65,7.65,0,1,0,7.65,7.65A7.65,7.65,0,0,0,10,2.14Zm1.14,5.12L8.63,9.78l2.46,2.46v1.31L7.35,9.82,11.15,6Z" transform="translate(-2.35 -2.14)"/> </svg> <span class="show-for-sr">Previous button</span> </button> </div> <div class="cell small-12 medium-10 large-9"> <div class="grid-x grid-padding-x"> <div class="cell small-12 relative"> <div id="article-carousel-520811" class="article-carousel grid-x "> <div class="cell stat-card"> <span class="text-icon">91%</span> <hr aria-hidden="true" /> <div> <p>91% of our research rated world-leading or internationally excellent.</p> </div> </div> <div class="cell stat-card"> <span class="text-icon">95%</span> <hr aria-hidden="true" /> <div> <p>95% of Lancaster's research has 4* 'outstanding' impact or 3* 'very considerable' reach and significance.</p> </div> </div> <div class="cell stat-card"> <span class="text-icon">88%</span> <hr aria-hidden="true" /> <div> <p>88% of Lancaster's research is rated 4* 'world leading' or 3* 'internationally excellent' for outputs.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="article-carousel-loading"> <div class="loading-ring"> <div></div> <div></div> <div></div> <div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="cell medium-1 large-1 show-for-medium carousel-arrow-wrapper right"> <button class="hide-for-large carousel-arrow right-arrow" type="button"> <svg viewBox="0 0 15.29 15.29" width="50" height="50" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"> <path d="M10,2.14a7.65,7.65,0,1,0,7.65,7.65A7.65,7.65,0,0,0,10,2.14ZM8.6,13.55V12.24l2.46-2.46L8.55,7.26V6l3.8,3.8Z" transform="translate(-2.35 -2.14)"/> </svg> <span class="show-for-sr">Next button</span> </button> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="grid-x article-carousel-wrapper show-for-small-only"> <div class="cell text-right small-3"> <button class="carousel-arrow left-arrow"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 15.29 15.29" width="50" height="50"> <path d="M10,2.14a7.65,7.65,0,1,0,7.65,7.65A7.65,7.65,0,0,0,10,2.14Zm1.14,5.12L8.63,9.78l2.46,2.46v1.31L7.35,9.82,11.15,6Z" transform="translate(-2.35 -2.14)"/> </svg> </button> </div> <div class="cell text-left small-3"> <button class="carousel-arrow right-arrow"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 15.29 15.29" width="50" height="50"> <path d="M10,2.14a7.65,7.65,0,1,0,7.65,7.65A7.65,7.65,0,0,0,10,2.14ZM8.6,13.55V12.24l2.46-2.46L8.55,7.26V6l3.8,3.8Z" transform="translate(-2.35 -2.14)"/> </svg> </button> </div> </div> </div> <script src="/media/wdp/style-assets/javascript/compiled/jspm/carousel.bundle.js?v=1614168193"></script> </section> </section>   <section class="quote-panel bg-grey"> <div class="grid-container"> <div class="grid-x grid-padding-x align-center"> <div class="cell small-12 medium-10"> <blockquote> <p class="bg-none"> <svg class="icon" width="25" height="25" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"> <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="/media/wdp/style-assets/images/symbols.svg#blockquote-left"></use> </svg> Lancaster’s REF 2021 results confirm our position as delivering world-quality research at the same time as a best-in-class student experience. We have sustained our excellence in research as we have grown in scale with more than 50% more staff submitted than in 2014. We have doubled our grant capture over that time too. Our excellence is revealed right across the disciplinary mix and enables us to create impact as we bring research communities together to deliver answers to complex problems. <svg class="icon" width="25" height="25" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"> <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="/media/wdp/style-assets/images/symbols.svg#blockquote-right"></use> </svg> </p> <footer> <span class="show-for-sr">A quote from </span>Professor Andy Schofield <span class="affiliation">Vice-Chancellor</span> </footer> </blockquote> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="layout-container"> <div class="anchor" id="d.en.521277"></div> <div class="text-feature-panel wide"> <div class="intro"> <h2>Key successes</h2> <p>Some important areas of Lancaster’s research are ranked particularly highly.</p> </div> <div class="feature-panel-cards wide-columns bg-none"> <div class="card"> <div class="card-text"> <h3>School of Mathematical Sciences</h3> <p>100% of research impact judged to be 'outstanding', 100% of research ranked as 'world-leading' or internationally excellent, and 7th overall in Times Higher Education.</p> </div> </div> </figure> <div class="card"> <div class="card-text"> <h3>Linguistics</h3> <p>100% of research impact rated 'outstanding' and 100% of research environment rated 'world-leading'.</p> </div> </div> </figure> <div class="card"> <div class="card-text"> <h3>Lancaster University Management School</h3> <p>100% of research environment rated 'world-leading' and rated no 1 business school in UK for 'research power'.</p> </div> </div> </figure> <div class="card"> <div class="card-text"> <h3>Faculty of Health and Medicine</h3> <p>100% of research environment rated 'world-leading' and 91% of research rated 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent'.</p> </div> </div> </figure> <div class="card"> <div class="card-text"> <h3>Educational Research</h3> <p>100% of research impact rated 'outstanding' and 90% of research rated 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent'.</p> </div> </div> </figure> <div class="card"> <div class="card-text"> <h3>Lancaster Environment Centre</h3> <p>Ranked 5th in the UK for 'research power' with 96% of research rated 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent' and 83% of research impact rated 'outstanding'.</p> </div> </div> </figure> </div> </div> </section> <section class="video bg-none with-panel"> <div class="anchor" id="d.en.520812"></div> <div class="video-panel"> <iframe title="This is Lancaster: A global research community changing lives" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AgVt858-UTA?rel=0" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div> <div class="panel-container"> <div class="headline-panel "> <h2>This is Lancaster: A global research community changing lives</h2> <p>We're proud of our research and the difference it makes locally and around the world. We'd like to introduce you to the fascinating and diverse work we do here, and the incredible people who make it all possible.</p> </div> </div> </section> <section class="inline-content bg-none" data-magellan-target="d.en.521476"> <div class="anchor" id="d.en.521476"></div> <div class="grid-container"> <div class="grid-x grid-margin-x"> <div class="cell small-12 medium-8 text"> <h2>About REF 2021</h2> <p><a href="http://www.ref.ac.uk">REF 2021</a> provides a 'census' assessment for the period 2014-2020 of the quality of universities' research in all disciplines, providing accountability for public investment in research.</p> <p>In total, 157 UK universities participated, submitting over 76,000 academic staff. Submissions included research outputs, examples of the wider benefits of research and evidence about the research environment. This material was assessed by a series of expert panels comprising UK and international researchers, external users of research and experts in interdisciplinary research.</p> </div> <div class="cell small-12 medium-4 image"> <figure> <img data-lazy-load src="/media/lancaster-university/content-assets/images/foundation/placeholders/feature-550x300.png" data-src="/media/lancaster-university/content-assets/images/research/ref2021/REF2021-feature-box-white.png" alt="REF 2021 logo" /> </figure> </div> </div> </div> </section><section class="heading bg-grey text-left" data-magellan-target="d.en.520820"> <div class='anchor' id='d.en.520820'></div> <div class="grid-container"> <div class="grid-x"> <div class="cell small-12 "> <h2>Lancaster University research</h2> <p>Stories from Lancaster's researchers around the world:</p> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="card-carousel foundation-carousel is-centred" aria-label="article carousel" data-use-center-mode="true" data-foundation-carousel-id="1519966866" > <div class="anchor" id="d.en.520821"></div> <div id="article-carousel-wrapper-1519966866"> <div class="grid-container full"> <div class="grid-x article-carousel-wrapper"> <div class="cell medium-1 large-1 show-for-medium carousel-arrow-wrapper left"> <button class=" carousel-arrow left-arrow" type="button"> <svg viewBox="0 0 15.29 15.29" width="50" height="50" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"> <path d="M10,2.14a7.65,7.65,0,1,0,7.65,7.65A7.65,7.65,0,0,0,10,2.14Zm1.14,5.12L8.63,9.78l2.46,2.46v1.31L7.35,9.82,11.15,6Z" transform="translate(-2.35 -2.14)"/> </svg> <span class="show-for-sr">Previous button</span> </button> </div> <div class="cell small-12 medium-10 large-9"> <div class="grid-x grid-padding-x"> <div class="cell small-12 relative"> <div id="article-carousel-1519966866" class="article-carousel grid-x "> <div class="cell medium-4 article-card"> <div class="card-wrapper"> <a href="/news/lancaster-universitys-pentland-centre-for-sustainability-in-business-awarded-1million-funding"> <div class="card-image"> <img data-lazy-load src="/media/lancaster-university/content-assets/images/foundation/placeholders/feature-550x300.png" data-src='https://cisweb.lancaster.ac.uk:443/img/cwip/cisweb.lancaster.ac.uk/EventsMedia/untitled-1400-x-558-px-638754973811870932.png?mode=crop&width=550&height=300&center=0.50%2c0.50' alt='Stephen and Andy Rubin, pictured among a gallery of art; and Professor Jan Bebbington from Lancaster University Management School who is smiling as she leans against a wood paneled wall' /> </div> <div class="card-content"> <h3 class="title">Lancaster University’s Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business awarded £1million funding </h3> <p>The Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business, a leading research centre at Lancaster University, has received a further five years of funding from the Rubin Foundation Charitable Trust. </p> </div> </a> </div> </div> <div class="cell medium-4 article-card"> <div class="card-wrapper"> <a href="/news/lancaster-professor-named-ripe-deputy-director"> <div class="card-image"> <img data-lazy-load src="/media/lancaster-university/content-assets/images/foundation/placeholders/feature-550x300.png" data-src='https://cisweb.lancaster.ac.uk:443/img/cwip/cisweb.lancaster.ac.uk/EventsMedia/elizabete-carmo-silva-ripe-638753988796996599.png?mode=crop&width=550&height=300&center=0.35%2c0.59' alt='Professor Elizabete Carmo-Silva' /> </div> <div class="card-content"> <h3 class="title">Lancaster Professor named RIPE Deputy Director</h3> <p>Lancaster University’s Professor Elizabete Carmo-Silva has been named Deputy Director of the internationally-acclaimed Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE) project.</p> </div> </a> </div> </div> <div class="cell medium-4 article-card"> <div class="card-wrapper"> <a href="/news/new-research-charts-the-rise-of-girls-love-tv-romance-in-thailand-1"> <div class="card-image"> <img data-lazy-load src="/media/lancaster-university/content-assets/images/foundation/placeholders/feature-550x300.png" data-src='https://cisweb.lancaster.ac.uk:443/img/cwip/cisweb.lancaster.ac.uk/EventsMedia/eva-li-web-638743707876078295.jpg?mode=crop&width=550&height=300&center=0.50%2c0.50' alt='Two rainbow-coloured flags' /> </div> <div class="card-content"> <h3 class="title">New research charts the rise of Girls’ Love TV romance in Thailand</h3> <p>The recent rise of the Girls’ Love (GL) media industry in Thailand, featuring female same-sex romance, has attracted a global following, particularly among queer women from Asia to Latin America, says new research from Lancaster University.</p> </div> </a> </div> </div> <div class="cell medium-4 article-card"> <div class="card-wrapper"> <a href="/news/game-changing-release-of-type-ia-supernovae-data-may-hold-key-to-the-history-of-the-universe"> <div class="card-image"> <img data-lazy-load src="/media/lancaster-university/content-assets/images/foundation/placeholders/feature-550x300.png" data-src='https://cisweb.lancaster.ac.uk:443/img/cwip/cisweb.lancaster.ac.uk/EventsMedia/observatorytimelapseweb-638750506565006604.jpg?mode=crop&width=550&height=300&center=0.50%2c0.50' alt='Nighttime long exposure of the open Samuel Oschin Telescope dome at Palomar Observatory in California' /> </div> <div class="card-content"> <h3 class="title">“Game changing” release of Type Ia Supernovae data may hold key to the history of the Universe</h3> <p>A unique dataset of Type Ia Supernovae being released today could change how cosmologists measure the expansion history of the Universe.</p> </div> </a> </div> </div> <div class="cell medium-4 article-card"> <div class="card-wrapper"> <a href="/news/outstanding-lancaster-astrophysicist-awarded-2025-caroline-herschel-medal"> <div class="card-image"> <img data-lazy-load src="/media/lancaster-university/content-assets/images/foundation/placeholders/feature-550x300.png" data-src='https://cisweb.lancaster.ac.uk:443/img/cwip/cisweb.lancaster.ac.uk/EventsMedia/isobelhookcreditjilljenningweb-638749543113149466.jpg?mode=crop&width=550&height=300&center=0.50%2c0.50' alt='Professor Isobel Hook' /> </div> <div class="card-content"> <h3 class="title">Outstanding Lancaster astrophysicist awarded 2025 Caroline Herschel Medal </h3> <p>A leader in the study of distant supernovae has been awarded the 2025 Caroline Herschel Medal for outstanding women astrophysicists in the UK and Germany.</p> </div> </a> </div> </div> <div class="cell medium-4 article-card"> <div class="card-wrapper"> <a href="/news/negative-refraction-of-light-using-atoms-instead-of-metamaterials"> <div class="card-image"> <img data-lazy-load src="/media/lancaster-university/content-assets/images/foundation/placeholders/feature-550x300.png" data-src='https://cisweb.lancaster.ac.uk:443/img/cwip/cisweb.lancaster.ac.uk/EventsMedia/physicsjannelightweb-638747861536531805.jpg?mode=crop&width=550&height=300&center=0.50%2c0.50' alt='Scientists have long sought to control light in ways that appear to defy the laws of Nature' /> </div> <div class="card-content"> <h3 class="title">Negative refraction of light using atoms instead of metamaterials</h3> <p>For the first time, scientists have demonstrated that negative refraction can be achieved using atomic arrays - without the need for artificially manufactured metamaterials.</p> </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="cell medium-1 large-1 show-for-medium carousel-arrow-wrapper right"> <button class=" carousel-arrow right-arrow" type="button"> <svg viewBox="0 0 15.29 15.29" width="50" height="50" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"> <path d="M10,2.14a7.65,7.65,0,1,0,7.65,7.65A7.65,7.65,0,0,0,10,2.14ZM8.6,13.55V12.24l2.46-2.46L8.55,7.26V6l3.8,3.8Z" 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