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Results and submissions

Introduction to the REF results

157 UK higher education institutions (HEIs) made submissions in 34 subject-based units of assessment (UOAs). The submissions were assessed by panels of experts, who produced an overall quality profile for each submission. Each overall quality profile shows the proportion of research activity judged by the panels to have met each of the four starred quality levels in steps of 1%.

Heriot-Watt University

Unit of assessment 4: Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience

Total category A submitted staff FTE : 13.10
% of eligible staff submitted : 100%
Overall Profile
Overall Profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 4%
  • Three star: 38%
  • Two star: 53%
  • One star: 5%
  • Unclassiified: 0%
Outputs Profile
Outputs Profile

60% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 6.1%
  • Three star: 36.3%
  • Two star: 48.5%
  • One star: 9.1%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%
Impact Profile
Impact Profile

25% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 0.0%
  • Three star: 50.0%
  • Two star: 50.0%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%
Environment Profile
Environment Profile

15% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 0.0%
  • Three star: 25.0%
  • Two star: 75.0%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%

Unit of assessment 7: Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences

Total category A submitted staff FTE : 34.44
% of eligible staff submitted : 100%
Overall Profile
Overall Profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 23%
  • Three star: 47%
  • Two star: 30%
  • One star: 0%
  • Unclassiified: 0%
Outputs Profile
Outputs Profile

60% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 24.7%
  • Three star: 64.7%
  • Two star: 10.6%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%
Impact Profile
Impact Profile

25% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 33.3%
  • Three star: 16.7%
  • Two star: 50.0%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%
Environment Profile
Environment Profile

15% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 0.0%
  • Three star: 25.0%
  • Two star: 75.0%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%

Unit of assessment 8: Chemistry

Total category A submitted staff FTE : 39.69
% of eligible staff submitted : 100%
Overall Profile
Overall Profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 17%
  • Three star: 63%
  • Two star: 19%
  • One star: 0%
  • Unclassiified: 1%
Outputs Profile
Outputs Profile

60% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 23.2%
  • Three star: 60.6%
  • Two star: 15.2%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 1.0%
Impact Profile
Impact Profile

25% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 12.5%
  • Three star: 62.5%
  • Two star: 25.0%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%
Environment Profile
Environment Profile

15% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 0.0%
  • Three star: 75.0%
  • Two star: 25.0%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%

Unit of assessment 9: Physics

Total category A submitted staff FTE : 21.00
% of eligible staff submitted : 100%
Overall Profile
Overall Profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 55%
  • Three star: 42%
  • Two star: 3%
  • One star: 0%
  • Unclassiified: 0%
Outputs Profile
Outputs Profile

60% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 71.7%
  • Three star: 22.6%
  • Two star: 5.7%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%
Impact Profile
Impact Profile

25% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 16.7%
  • Three star: 83.3%
  • Two star: 0.0%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%
Environment Profile
Environment Profile

15% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 50.0%
  • Three star: 50.0%
  • Two star: 0.0%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%

Unit of assessment 10: Mathematical Sciences (joint submission with University of Edinburgh)

Total category A submitted staff FTE
  • (Heriot-Watt University): 54.10
  • (whole submission): 144.65
% of eligible staff submitted
(whole submission) : 100%
Overall Profile
Overall Profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 56%
  • Three star: 40%
  • Two star: 4%
  • One star: 0%
  • Unclassiified: 0%
Outputs Profile
Outputs Profile

60% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 52.5%
  • Three star: 46.1%
  • Two star: 1.1%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.3%
Impact Profile
Impact Profile

25% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 44.4%
  • Three star: 44.5%
  • Two star: 11.1%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%
Environment Profile
Environment Profile

15% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 87.5%
  • Three star: 12.5%
  • Two star: 0.0%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%

Unit of assessment 11: Computer Science and Informatics

Total category A submitted staff FTE : 31.70
% of eligible staff submitted : 100%
Overall Profile
Overall Profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 22%
  • Three star: 70%
  • Two star: 8%
  • One star: 0%
  • Unclassiified: 0%
Outputs Profile
Outputs Profile

60% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 30.4%
  • Three star: 63.3%
  • Two star: 6.3%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%
Impact Profile
Impact Profile

25% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 16.7%
  • Three star: 66.6%
  • Two star: 16.7%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%
Environment Profile
Environment Profile

15% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 0.0%
  • Three star: 100.0%
  • Two star: 0.0%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%

Unit of assessment 12: Engineering (joint submission with University of Edinburgh)

Total category A submitted staff FTE
  • (Heriot-Watt University): 134.90
  • (whole submission): 281.15
% of eligible staff submitted
(whole submission) : 100%
Overall Profile
Overall Profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 42%
  • Three star: 54%
  • Two star: 4%
  • One star: 0%
  • Unclassiified: 0%
Outputs Profile
Outputs Profile

60% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 38.4%
  • Three star: 58.6%
  • Two star: 2.6%
  • One star: 0.4%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%
Impact Profile
Impact Profile

25% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 29.2%
  • Three star: 62.5%
  • Two star: 8.3%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%
Environment Profile
Environment Profile

15% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 75.0%
  • Three star: 25.0%
  • Two star: 0.0%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%

Unit of assessment 13: Architecture, Built Environment and Planning (joint submission with University of Edinburgh)

Total category A submitted staff FTE
  • (Heriot-Watt University): 30.60
  • (whole submission): 73.00
% of eligible staff submitted
(whole submission) : 100%
Overall Profile
Overall Profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 48%
  • Three star: 44%
  • Two star: 6%
  • One star: 2%
  • Unclassiified: 0%
Outputs Profile
Outputs Profile

60% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 36.3%
  • Three star: 50.5%
  • Two star: 10.5%
  • One star: 2.2%
  • Unclassiified: 0.5%
Impact Profile
Impact Profile

25% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 58.3%
  • Three star: 41.7%
  • Two star: 0.0%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%
Environment Profile
Environment Profile

15% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 75.0%
  • Three star: 25.0%
  • Two star: 0.0%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%

Unit of assessment 17: Business and Management Studies

Total category A submitted staff FTE : 33.90
% of eligible staff submitted : 100%
Overall Profile
Overall Profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 25%
  • Three star: 53%
  • Two star: 21%
  • One star: 1%
  • Unclassiified: 0%
Outputs Profile
Outputs Profile

60% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 21.2%
  • Three star: 55.3%
  • Two star: 21.1%
  • One star: 2.4%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%
Impact Profile
Impact Profile

25% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 33.3%
  • Three star: 50.0%
  • Two star: 16.7%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%
Environment Profile
Environment Profile

15% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 25.0%
  • Three star: 50.0%
  • Two star: 25.0%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%

Unit of assessment 25: Area Studies

Total category A submitted staff FTE : 18.70
% of eligible staff submitted : 100%
Overall Profile
Overall Profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 31%
  • Three star: 36%
  • Two star: 28%
  • One star: 5%
  • Unclassiified: 0%
Outputs Profile
Outputs Profile

60% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 30.4%
  • Three star: 30.5%
  • Two star: 30.4%
  • One star: 8.7%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%
Impact Profile
Impact Profile

25% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 50.0%
  • Three star: 25.0%
  • Two star: 25.0%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%
Environment Profile
Environment Profile

15% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 0.0%
  • Three star: 75.0%
  • Two star: 25.0%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%

Unit of assessment 32: Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory

Total category A submitted staff FTE : 10.29
% of eligible staff submitted : 100%
Overall Profile
Overall Profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 23%
  • Three star: 45%
  • Two star: 27%
  • One star: 5%
  • Unclassiified: 0%
Outputs Profile
Outputs Profile

60% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 12.5%
  • Three star: 58.3%
  • Two star: 20.9%
  • One star: 8.3%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%
Impact Profile
Impact Profile

25% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 50.0%
  • Three star: 0.0%
  • Two star: 50.0%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%
Environment Profile
Environment Profile

15% of overall profile

Percentage of submission meeting of the standard of:

  • Four star: 22.5%
  • Three star: 62.5%
  • Two star: 15.0%
  • One star: 0.0%
  • Unclassiified: 0.0%