Research Power

QUICK GUIDE:

Sort the table below by badges to find universities that excel in those areas. Each in the table represents a university strength. Hover or click over any badge to see what it means.

UK universities conducting world-leading research across multiple disciplines. The universities listed below have all produced research awarded 4* (four-star) ratings in the Research Excellence Framework 2021 (REF), demonstrating quality that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour. This represents the highest possible rating for research excellence in the UK.

Location :

University	Location	University	Research Power	Outstanding Teaching	High Quality Teaching	Satisfied Students	Global Leader	International Mix	Specialist Institution	Student Favourite	Prestige	Badges
Abertay University	Scotland	Abertay University	1			1						2
Aberystwyth University	Wales	Aberystwyth University	1			1				1		3
Arts University Bournemouth	South West	Arts University Bournemouth	1		1				1			3
Aston University	West Midlands	Aston University	1	1	1	1						4
Bangor University	Wales	Bangor University	1					1				2
Bath Spa University	South West	Bath Spa University	1		1							2
Birkbeck, University of London	London	Birkbeck, University of London	1									1
Birmingham City University	West Midlands	Birmingham City University	1	1	1	1						4
Bishop Grosseteste University	East Midlands	Bishop Grosseteste University	1		1	1				1		4
Bournemouth University	South West	Bournemouth University	1		1							2
Brunel University of London	London	Brunel University of London	1				1	1				3
Buckinghamshire New University	South East	Buckinghamshire New University	1		1							2
Canterbury Christ Church University	South East	Canterbury Christ Church University	1		1							2
Cardiff Metropolitan University	Wales	Cardiff Metropolitan University	1					1				2
Cardiff University	Wales	Cardiff University	1				1				1	3
City St George's, University of London	London	City St George's, University of London	1		1							2
Courtauld Institute of Art	London	Courtauld Institute of Art	1					1	1		1	4
Coventry University	West Midlands	Coventry University	1	1	1	1		1				5
Cranfield University	East of England	Cranfield University	1					1	1			3
De Montfort University	East Midlands	De Montfort University	1		1			1				3
Durham University	North East	Durham University	1	1	1	1	1	1			1	7
Edge Hill University	North West	Edge Hill University	1	1	1	1						4
Edinburgh Napier University	Scotland	Edinburgh Napier University	1			1		1				3
Falmouth University	South West	Falmouth University	1		1				1			3
Glasgow Caledonian University	Scotland	Glasgow Caledonian University	1			1		1				3
Glasgow School of Art	Scotland	Glasgow School of Art	1					1	1		1	4
Goldsmiths, University of London	London	Goldsmiths, University of London	1					1				2
Guildhall School of Music & Drama	London	Guildhall School of Music & Drama	1	1	1	1		1	1	1	1	8
Harper Adams University	Wales	Harper Adams University	1	1	1							3
Hartpury University	South West	Hartpury University	1	1	1	1						4
Health Sciences University	South West	Health Sciences University	1		1			1	1			4
Heriot-Watt University	Scotland	Heriot-Watt University	1				1	1				3
Imperial College London	London	Imperial College London	1	1	1	1	1	1			1	7
Institute of Cancer Research	London	Institute of Cancer Research	1						1			2
Keele University	West Midlands	Keele University	1	1	1	1						4
King's College London	London	King's College London	1	1	1		1	1			1	6
Kingston University	London	Kingston University	1	1	1			1				4
Lancaster University	North West	Lancaster University	1	1	1	1	1	1				6
Leeds Arts University	Yorkshire and the Humber	Leeds Arts University	1		1	1			1			4
Leeds Beckett University	Yorkshire and the Humber	Leeds Beckett University	1		1	1						3
Leeds Trinity University	Yorkshire and the Humber	Leeds Trinity University	1		1	1						3
Liverpool Hope University	North West	Liverpool Hope University	1		1	1				1		4
Liverpool John Moores University	North West	Liverpool John Moores University	1	1	1	1						4
London Business School	London	London Business School	1					1	1			3
London Metropolitan University	London	London Metropolitan University	1	1	1	1						4
London School of Economics and Political Science	London	London School of Economics and Political Science	1	1	1	1	1	1			1	7
London School of Hygiene And Tropical Medicine	London	London School of Hygiene And Tropical Medicine	1					1	1			3
London South Bank University	London	London South Bank University	1		1							2
Loughborough University	East Midlands	Loughborough University	1	1	1	1	1					5
Manchester Metropolitan University	North West	Manchester Metropolitan University	1	1	1	1						4
Middlesex University	London	Middlesex University	1		1	1		1				4
Newcastle University	North East	Newcastle University	1		1		1				1	4
Newman University	West Midlands	Newman University	1		1	1						3
Northumbria University Newcastle	North East	Northumbria University Newcastle	1	1	1			1				4
Norwich University of The Arts	East of England	Norwich University of The Arts	1	1	1				1			4
Nottingham Trent University	East Midlands	Nottingham Trent University	1	1	1	1						4
Open University(The)	South East	Open University(The)	1	1	1	1			1			5
Oxford Brookes University	South East	Oxford Brookes University	1		1	1						3
Plymouth Marjon University	South West	Plymouth Marjon University	1	1	1	1						4
Queen Margaret University	Scotland	Queen Margaret University	1			1						2
Queen Mary University of London	London	Queen Mary University of London	1		1		1	1			1	5
Queen's University Belfast	Northern Ireland	Queen's University Belfast	1				1				1	3
Ravensbourne University London	London	Ravensbourne University London	1		1							2
Robert Gordon University	Scotland	Robert Gordon University	1			1		1				3
Rose Bruford College	London	Rose Bruford College	1		1	1			1	1		5
Royal Academy of Music	London	Royal Academy of Music	1	1	1			1	1		1	6
Royal Agricultural University	South West	Royal Agricultural University	1		1				1			3
Royal College of Art (The)	London	Royal College of Art (The)	1					1	1		1	4
Royal College of Music	London	Royal College of Music	1	1	1	1		1	1		1	7
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland	Scotland	Royal Conservatoire of Scotland	1					1	1		1	4
Royal Holloway, University of London	South East	Royal Holloway, University of London	1		1							2
Royal Northern College of Music	North West	Royal Northern College of Music	1	1	1			1	1		1	6
School of Oriental And African Studies	London	School of Oriental And African Studies	1		1			1	1			4
Sheffield Hallam University	Yorkshire and the Humber	Sheffield Hallam University	1	1	1							3
Southampton Solent University	South East	Southampton Solent University	1	1	1	1						4
St Mary'S University, Twickenham	London	St Mary'S University, Twickenham	1	1	1							3
Stranmillis University College	Northern Ireland	Stranmillis University College	1			1						2
Swansea University	Wales	Swansea University	1			1	1					3
Teesside University	North East	Teesside University	1	1	1	1		1				5
The City University	London	The City University	1	1	1	1		1				5
The Royal Central School of Speech And Drama	London	The Royal Central School of Speech And Drama	1	1	1			1	1		1	6
The Royal Veterinary College	London	The Royal Veterinary College	1	1	1			1	1			5
The University of Manchester	North West	The University of Manchester	1	1	1		1	1			1	6
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music And Dance Ltd	London	Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music And Dance Ltd	1		1			1	1			4
Ulster University	Northern Ireland	Ulster University	1			1		1				3
University College London	London	University College London	1	1	1		1	1			1	6
University For The Creative Arts	South East	University For The Creative Arts	1		1			1	1			4
University of Aberdeen	Scotland	University of Aberdeen	1			1	1	1			1	5
University of Bath	South West	University of Bath	1	1	1	1	1	1				6
University of Bedfordshire	East of England	University of Bedfordshire	1		1			1				3
University of Birmingham	West Midlands	University of Birmingham	1	1	1	1	1	1			1	7
University of Bolton	North West	University of Bolton	1	1	1	1						4
University of Bradford	Yorkshire and the Humber	University of Bradford	1		1			1				3
University of Brighton	South East	University of Brighton	1		1							2
University of Bristol	South West	University of Bristol	1	1	1		1	1			1	6
University of Cambridge	East of England	University of Cambridge	1	1	1	1	1	1		1	1	8
University of Central Lancashire	North West	University of Central Lancashire	1		1	1		1				4
University of Chester	North West	University of Chester	1		1							2
University of Chichester	South East	University of Chichester	1	1	1	1						4
University of Cumbria	North West	University of Cumbria	1		1							2
University of Derby	East Midlands	University of Derby	1	1	1	1						4
University of Dundee	Scotland	University of Dundee	1			1	1	1				4
University of East Anglia	East of England	University of East Anglia	1		1		1					3
University of East London	London	University of East London	1		1	1		1				4
University of Edinburgh	Scotland	University of Edinburgh	1				1	1			1	4
University of Essex	East of England	University of Essex	1		1	1	1	1				5
University of Exeter	South West	University of Exeter	1	1	1		1	1			1	6
University of Glasgow	Scotland	University of Glasgow	1				1	1			1	4
University of Gloucestershire	South West	University of Gloucestershire	1		1							2
University of Greenwich	London	University of Greenwich	1	1	1			1				4
University of Hertfordshire	East of England	University of Hertfordshire	1		1	1		1				4
University of Huddersfield	Yorkshire and the Humber	University of Huddersfield	1	1	1							3
University of Hull	Yorkshire and the Humber	University of Hull	1	1	1	1		1				5
University of Kent	South East	University of Kent	1		1		1					3
University of Leeds	Yorkshire and the Humber	University of Leeds	1		1		1	1			1	5
University of Leicester	East Midlands	University of Leicester	1	1	1	1	1	1				6
University of Lincoln	East Midlands	University of Lincoln	1	1	1							3
University of Liverpool	North West	University of Liverpool	1	1	1	1	1	1	0	0	1	7
University of Northampton	East Midlands	University of Northampton	1		1	1		1				4
University of Nottingham	East Midlands	University of Nottingham	1	1	1		1				1	5
University of Oxford	South East	University of Oxford	1	1	1	1	1	1			1	7
University of Plymouth	South West	University of Plymouth	1	1	1	1						4
University of Portsmouth	South East	University of Portsmouth	1	1	1	1		1				5
University of Reading	South East	University of Reading	1		1		1					3
University of Roehampton	London	University of Roehampton	1		1			1				3
University of Salford	North West	University of Salford	1		1	1						3
University of Sheffield	Yorkshire and the Humber	University of Sheffield	1		1	1	1	1			1	6
University of South Wales/Prifysgol De Cymru	Wales	University of South Wales/Prifysgol De Cymru	1			1		1				3
University of Southampton	South East	University of Southampton	1		1	1	1	1			1	6
University of St Andrews	Scotland	University of St Andrews	1	1	1	1	1	1		1	1	8
University of Staffordshire	West Midlands	University of Staffordshire	1		1							2
University of Stirling	Scotland	University of Stirling	1					1				2
University of Strathclyde	Scotland	University of Strathclyde	1			1	1					3
University of Suffolk	East of England	University of Suffolk	1		1	1						3
University of Sunderland	North East	University of Sunderland	1		1	1		1				4
University of Surrey	South East	University of Surrey	1	0	1	1	1	1	0	0	0	5
University of Sussex	South East	University of Sussex	1		1	1	1	1				5
University of the Arts London	London	University of the Arts London	1		1			1	1		1	5
University of The Highlands And Islands	Scotland	University of The Highlands And Islands	1			1						2
University of The West of Scotland	Scotland	University of The West of Scotland	1			1		1				3
University of Wales Trinity Saint David	Wales	University of Wales Trinity Saint David	1			1						2
University of Warwick	West Midlands	University of Warwick	1	1	1	1	1	1			1	7
University of West London	London	University of West London	1	1	1	1						4
University of Westminster	London	University of Westminster	1		1			1				3
University of Winchester	South East	University of Winchester	1		1							2
University of Wolverhampton	West Midlands	University of Wolverhampton	1			1						2
University of Worcester	West Midlands	University of Worcester	1		1	1						3
University of York	Yorkshire and the Humber	University of York	1	1	1		1				1	5
UWE Bristol	South West	UWE Bristol	1	1	1	1			1	1		6
Wrexham University	Wales	Wrexham University	1									1
York St John University	Yorkshire and the Humber	York St John University	1	1	1	1		1				5

How Badges are Awarded:

Understanding Our University Badges

How to use our website:

Badges Vs University Rankings

Data Source:

Last Updated: January 2025 | Our Data Sources: TEF, NSS, REF 2021

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