REF 2021 in Life Sciences

For the second successive REF we are the top University in the UK for Biological Sciences (Times Higher Education).

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For the second successive REF we are the top University in the UK for Biological Sciences (Times Higher Education). A total of 71% of our activities being assessed as ‘world leading’ and 28% as ‘internationally excellent’. For the Environment section, which assesses all the activities we provide to support our research, we were assessed as having 100% world leading activity. 

“This success really does belong to all of us – academics, postdocs and research students, as well as all the professional services staff that support our many activities, including secretarial staff, laboratory managers, facilities staff, HR staff, finance staff, security, cleaning staff and everyone else who works in the School.”

Professor Julian Blow, Dean of School

What is the Research Excellent Framework (REF)?

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the main assessment of research across the higher education sector in the UK, and is vitally important in determining both future research funding and our global reputation. The REF process assesses each of our discipline areas in terms of its quality, and is carried out once every six-to-seven years. Submissions include research outputs, examples of the wider benefits of research, and evidence about the research environment.

For the second successive REF we are the top University in the UK for Biological Sciences (Times Higher Education). A total of 71% of our activities being assessed as ‘world leading’ and 28% as ‘internationally excellent’. For the Environment section, which assesses all the activities we provide to support our research, we were assessed as having 100% world leading activity.

Research impact case studies account for 25% of the REF assessment and describe the practical benefits that result from our research. Read summary articles of our case studies:

New approaches to drug discovery

Learn how targeted protein degradation, studying a specific gene mutation in Parkinson’s disease, and automating drug design are finding new treatments for diseases affecting millions.
Read about our new approaches to drug discovery

Neglected tropical diseases

Neglected tropical diseases affect over a billion people. Learn how scientists in Dundee have developed a diagnostic for Human African Trypanosomiasis and potential new treatments for visceral leishmaniasis and malaria.
Learn about our research into neglected tropical diseases
University of Dundee REF webpages

Further information explaining the Research Excellence Framework and to explore the University of Dundee REF 2021 submission

Visit the University's REF webpages

The REF 2021 outcomes can be viewed in full on the REF 2021 website.

The last REF took place in 2014 and the University of Dundee results can be found on the REF 2014 website.

“I am so proud of the quality and real-world impact of the school’s research, and of the supportive culture that enables this.”

Professor Claire Halpin, Associate Dean, Research