Research

Research Excellence Framework (REF)

The Maxwell Institute for Mathematical Sciences, a research partnership between the Universities of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt, celebrates the results of the Research Excellence Framework.

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

The results for the 2021 submission have now been published. The Maxwell Institute, the long-standing joint research partnership between the University of Edinburgh and Heriot Watt University, is delighted and proud to have come 3rd in the UK for Mathematical Sciences, based on the quality and breadth of our combined research*.

This result will enable us to continue to progress with our ambitions, inspired and sustained by the excellent research environment we have created and which also supports the International Centre for Mathematical Sciences. It will allow us to build on the brilliant research we have already developed, and to scale up our existing applications to areas of importance such as the global response to the climate emergency, the UK’s financial sectors, as well as to new emerging challenges.

As one of the UK’s powerhouses in the Mathematical Sciences, our research-led teaching will train future mathematical scientists who can contribute to the superb standards of mathematics locally and the UK, and to the global scientific community.

These results highlight that overall 96% of our research is recognised as world leading and internationally excellent with over 56% of research activity given the highest possible 4* rating. The Maxwell Institute submitted the work of 144.65 members of staff to the REF for assessment, with 54.1 from the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences at Heriot-Watt University.

*All rankings cited are calculated by combining the Times Higher Education’s ratings for the Maxwell Institute, both University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University, based on Research Power, the quality and breadth of our combined research.