Using a ‘research power’ ranking (research excellence and volume of staff) Swansea University is ranked 36th; clearly positioning the University as a significant intensive research-led Institution.

Within Wales, out of 31 subject areas submitted, Swansea University came first in Wales in 17 areas, and first or second in 24 areas.  

In the Times Higher Education Table of Excellence Swansea University jumped 13 places to 52nd from 65th, whilst Cardiff and Bangor universities both fell in the rankings.  

Overall 47.5% of Swansea University staff submitted for assessment have been given the highest 4* and 3* ratings (world-class and internationally excellent)

11% of our research achieved the highest category of ‘world-leading’ (4*).

Overall 85% of Swansea University staff submitted for assessment are classed as producing research of international quality or above (grades 4*, 3* and 2*).

27 out of 31 research areas are shown to be undertaking research that includes world leading work (4*).

Swansea University has demonstrated an extraordinarily strong performance against other UK universities in the disciplines of Engineering, Medicine and Computer Science.

The University also shows an outstanding, dramatic improvement in internationally recognised research excellence for Geography, Economics, Welsh and History.

When the profile for each Unit of Assessment is turned into a weighted average, Swansea University’s Civil Engineering department achieves an overall UK ranking of second, just behind Imperial College, and ahead of Cardiff University in third place.    

64 per cent of staff within the School of Engineering are classed as producing research of world-class or internationally excellent quality (grades 4* and 3*).

Other high performing ‘stars’ are Computer Science and Welsh with 70% and 65% respectively, of research listed in the top two categories (4* and 3*).

Within the School of Human Sciences, Social Work and Social Policy were recognised, with 60% of research submitted by Social Policy, Criminology and Social Work staff classed as being of world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*) quality.

Swansea University submitted 90% of its research staff for assessment.

The results are particularly positive for Swansea University as HEFCW will base research funding decisions on the RAE 2008, along with the volume of staff within institutions.