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2008 RAE results

Birkbeck Psychology rises to 5th in the UK

Birkbeck's Department of Psychological Sciences achieved an outstanding result in the Research Assessment Exercise, moving at least 12 places up the rankings to 5th in the UK.

Institution

Staff

Mean

1. University of Cambridge 24.00 3.2
2.  University of Oxford 39.10 3.1
3. University of Birmingham 45.13 3.05
4.  University College London
56.42 3
5.  Birkbeck College 23.70 2.9
6. Cardiff University 59.35 2.9
7.  University of St Andrews 33.90 2.85

Measures of success

  • 25% of the Department's work was rated in the highest category 4*, defined as ‘world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour.'
  • 45% was rated 3*, defined as 'internationally excellent in terms of originality, significance and rigour.'
  • This result means that Psychology has achieved its 'ambitious aim to be one of the world's leading medium-sized Psychology departments', which was the closing phrase of its RAE submission. Together with Cambridge, Birkbeck Psychology is now in the top two of medium sized departments in the UK.

Collective achievement

Head of Department, Professor Mike Oaksford, commented:

'This is a superb collective effort on the School's part. All research staff, administrative and IT staff have played a vital role...Without the superb levels of support that we receive, we could not do our work. Moreover, many research staff were also returned in this RAE and so it is truly a collective effort; we should all feel rightly proud of this achievement.'

Please note: rankings vary depending on the measure used.