Top 30 National Ranking of Universities for 3* and 4* scores:

1. Imperial College London

2. University of Cambridge

3. University of Oxford

4. London School of Economics

5. University College London

6. University of Manchester

7. University of Warwick

8. University of Essex

9. University of Edinburgh

10 Queen Mary, University of London

11 University of York

12 University of Bristol

13 University of Southampton

14 University of Leeds

15 University of Durham

16 Lancaster University

17 University of Sheffield

18 Royal Holloway, London

19 Kings College London

20 University of Bath

21 University of St Andrews

22 Cardiff University

23 University of Birmingham

24 University of Nottingham

25 University of Newcastle

26 Loughborough University

27 Birkbeck College

28 University of Glasgow

29 University of Sussex

30 University of Exeter

(NB The scoring systems for the RAE 2008 measures research quality in four categories, with the top score of 4* indicating quality that is world-leading and of the highest standards in terms of originality, significance and rigour. followed by 3* indicating quality that is internationally excellent in terms of originality significance and rigour and just short of the highest standards of excellence.

 

The top performing departments across the Faculties ranked by proportion of 3* and 4* research are:

Music (Arts) ranked 1st - it has been consistently awarded the highest research rating in all previous RAEs and is now the UK’s top Department;

School of Biological Sciences (Science)- ranked joint 3rd, it has benefited from strategic investment in staff, research and teaching facilities, boosting the internationally competitive quality of its research;

Economics (History & Social Sciences) - ranked joint 9th - a relatively young department established 10 years ago with highly-regarded academic staff who advise Governments and international organisations.

A futher six departments are ranked in the Top 10 nationally based on 3* and 4* scores: Drama (joint 9th), Earth Sciences (joint 7th),  Geography (joint 9th), German (joint 5th) Media Arts (joint 6th), and Psychology (joint 5th).

60% of Royal Holloway's research profile is rated as world-leading or internationally excellent, outperforming the national average of 50%.

The College is ranked 6th out of 18 institutions belonging to the 1994 Group of renowned research-led institutions based on 3* and 4* scores.

In the South East region, Royal Holloway ranks third after Oxford and Southampton.

Overall the College is ranked 16th in the UK in terms of research of purely 4* standard,  indicating quality that is world-leading and of the highest standards in terms of originality, significance and rigour.