Research Assessment Exercise

The Middlesex University results in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise make excellent reading especially as compared to the wide range of ‘new’ universities (those higher education institutions which have become universities since 1992).  These results demonstrate that research at Middlesex has an important impact on national and international policy and practice.  Students coming to Middlesex will know that they will be taught in areas where internationally renowned research is being undertaken.

The funding body for UK universities – HEFCE – has deemed that scores of '2' and above mean that the research being carried out in that subject area is recognised the world over for its originality, significance and rigour.

Over three quarters – 77% - of all of Middlesex's research submitted for the Research Assessment Exercise achieved a '2' rating or above, making the vast majority of the research carried out at Middlesex internationally recognised.  


Here are some details of Middlesex University's subject rankings, based on the grade point average for each subject:

Middlesex is in the top five new universities in the UK in these subjects:

  • Philosophy
  • Business and Management
  • Geography and Environmental Studies
  • Social Work and Social Policy (including Criminology, Sociology and International Relations)
  • History of Art, Architecture and Design
  • Drama, Dance and Performing Arts

The very best in the UK among new universities:

  • Philosophy (outperforming Warwick, Sussex, Glasgow and Durham Universities)
  • History of Art, Architecture and Design (outperforming Leeds University)

Third in the UK among new universities:

  • Drama, Dance and Performing Arts (and equivalent to the Central School for Speech and Drama)

The very best in London among new universities:

  • Computer Science and Informatics (outperforming Manchester Metropolitan University)

Second in London among new universities:

  • Social Work and Social Policy including Criminology, Sociology and International Relations (outperforming Royal Holloway and Goldsmiths Colleges, University of London and Glasgow and Dundee Universities)
  • Geography and Environmental Studies (outperforming Portsmouth and Kingston Universities)
  • Business and Management Studies (ranking very highly against the other 113 UK universities which are members of the Association of Business Schools)

Third in London among new universities:

  • Allied Health Professions and Studies (This research only started at Middlesex in 2004, and despite this the University outperformed Southampton University and the University of East Anglia)
  • Law (outperforming Kingston and London Metropolitan Universities)

Professor Waqar Ahmad, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise commented:  "I am very pleased with Middlesex's RAE results.  They demonstrate that research at Middlesex is internationally competitive in almost all subject areas in this RAE".

For more detailed information, download the full 2008 RAE results:

Visit the Research Assessment Exercise website to find out more.

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