REF 2021
The (REF) is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. It took place most recently in 2021.
Overall
Overall, 81% of research submitted to REF 2021 by the School was judged to be world leading or internationally excellent.
Environment
100% of our research environment has been judged as being conducive to producing research of world-leading or internationally excellent quality and enabling outstanding impact, in terms of its vitality and sustainability.
Research outputs
83% of our have been judged as world-leading or internationally excellent in terms of originality, significance and rigour.
Research impact
67% of our impact case studies have been judged as having outstanding or very considerable impacts in terms of their reach and significance.
Key research environment statistics
• 68 academic staff were submitted for assessment
• 30% were female, 21% were from a BAME background, 53% were non-UK nationals
• Academic staff published articles with 519 co-authors from other UK universities, and 1,002 co-authors from outside the UK
• 21 academic staff have held editorial roles across 28 academic journals
• £6.68 million externally-funded research grant income was raised across the REF 2021 cycle
• 63 PhDs were completed across accounting, economics, finance and management, of which 50% were placed in academic posts
• 593 research seminars were hosted by the school, of which 201 were given by external international scholars
• 31 academic staff took research sabbaticals, equivalent to 208 person months
"We are delighted that the work across the academic departments of the School has been recognised in this important exercise. It is further endorsement of the quality of our research environment, which was rated as 100% internationally excellent or world-leading in REF 2021.
"These results are part of a whole School effort, including our dedicated researchers, our non-academic staff, and our valued external partners. We look forward to building on our excellent results across the next REF cycle."
Professor Patrick McCole, Interim Head of School (Sep 2021 - Jun 2022)
Impact case studies
Our impact case studies can be viewed below:
"The REF results validate our strategic investment in areas that align to regional, national and global research priorities, including those identified by the Department for the Economy and transformational investment in the Belfast Region City Deal.
"...Our work also continues to impact globally, we are steadfast in our commitment to supporting the potential of research to change peoples’ lives across the world. We aim to be a beacon for Northern Ireland in our approach to global challenges through our commitments as part of our institutional Strategy 2030."
Professor Ian Greer, Vice-Chancellor at Queen's University Belfast