Home18 December 2008
The results for the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2008 were recently published by HEFCE, the Higher Education Funding Council.
The Institute of Cancer at Barts submitted more than 33 researchers (over 95% of its academic faculty) to the RAE. 15 per cent of submissions were in the highest 4* category (world-leading) while 70 per cent were in the 3* category (internationally excellent). This places the Institute 3rd overall in the country for the proportion of activity at this level, an outstanding achievement. Overall, the Institute was ranked 5th highest out of 18 submitting in this Unit of Assessment in the UK.
No activity in Cancer Studies at Barts was ranked at less than 2* (quality that is 'recognised internationally in terms of originality, significance and rigour'), setting this Institute above other institutions (including the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford, Imperial College and University College London) returning in this research field.
The RAE is a peer review exercise which evaluates the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. This assessment will inform the UK higher education funding bodies' decision in March 2009 on the distribution of the approximately £1.2 billion annually to universities. More about the RAE and the results can be found here
