Almost 80 percent of research work undertaken by the University of West London (UWL) has been rated as world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*) in the latest Government assessment of research in higher education. 

According to the Research Excellence Framework (REF), the career-focused university also managed to secure the biggest percentage increase of any university in the UK for research awarded the two highest ratings. And, for the first time ever, UWL entered the top 100 universities in the UK for overall quality of our research.

Professor Peter John CBE, Vice-Chancellor of UWL, said:

Our world-leading research is addressing the problems we face today and creating the solutions that will transform lives across the globe tomorrow. In a wide range of areas, including crime, health and culture, UWL is delivering research that ranks with the elite universities across the world.

We’ve won plenty of plaudits for the excellent student experience we provide and the quality of our teaching, now UWL is also being recognised for the quality and volume of our research.

Today, it’s not just our students who are beating expectations to deliver excellence, it’s our academic researchers too.

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the UK’s system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.

Undertaken by the UK’s four higher education funding bodies, the REF aims to secure the continuation of a world-class, dynamic and responsive research base across the full academic spectrum within UK higher education.