UCL Computer Science 2nd in the UK for research power in REF2021

UCL Computer Science emerged 2nd in the UK and 1st in England for research power by a measure of the average research score multiplied by the volume of staff submissions.  

The department was also ranked 2nd overall in the UK on percentage of our submission rated as either ‘world leading’ (4* - the highest possible category) or ‘internationally excellent’ (3*). 

Over 80% of our Impact case studies were rated ‘outstanding’ (4*) and 100% were rated either ‘outstanding’ (4*) or having ‘very considerable impact’ (3*). 

The REF assesses the impact and quality of research across 157 UK universities approximately every six to seven years. 

This outstanding result reflects the department’s hallmark of world-class quality across an exceptional breadth of research. They also mirror UCL’s institutional performance, which ranked 2nd for research power overall.  

Head of Department, Professor Steve Hailes, said: “I would like to pay tribute to the hard work put in to this REF round by everyone, academics and professional services staff alike, during a period that was in part subject to the strain of a pandemic. We believe that we can continue to hold our heads up high as leading performers in a field that is one of the most competitive around. 

We are an outstanding department with both great breadth and great strength in depth and our focus will remain on being the best we can possibly be whilst retaining a culture of inclusivity and openness to new, disruptive and challenging ways of thinking.”