# REF 2021 results
**Source**: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results
**Parent**: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/international-students
View the results of our submission to the Research Excellence Framework: REF 2021, published on Thursday 12 May 2022.
## Table of results
Here are the results for all 25 units of assessment (UoAs).
[You can view a breakdown of scores within each UoA](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment).
### Sussex REF 2021 overall results
| Unit of Assessment | School | FTE | 4\* | 3\* | 4\*/3\* | GPA (THE) | GPA Rank (THE) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [1 – Clinical Medicine](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#clinical) | Brighton and Sussex Medical School | 19.20 | 16 | 64 | 80 | 2.91 | 30 |
| [3 – Allied Health Professions](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#allied-health-professions) † | Brighton and Sussex Medical School with the University of Brighton | 63.90 | 39 | 46 | 85 | 3.22 | 31 |
| [4 – Psychology Psychiatry and Neuroscience](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#psychology) | Psychology | 53.90 | 50 | 38 | 88 | 3.38 | 18 |
| [5 – Biological Sciences](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#biological) | Life Sciences | 63.80 | 35 | 59 | 94 | 3.28 | 22 |
| [8 – Chemistry](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#chemistry) | Life Sciences | 18.30 | 29 | 58 | 87 | 3.16 | 28 |
| [9 – Physics](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#physics) | Mathematical and Physical Sciences | 42.70 | 42 | 52 | 94 | 3.35 | 26 |
| [10 – Mathematics Sciences](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#maths) | Mathematical and Physical Sciences | 22.00 | 35 | 60 | 95 | 3.3 | 26 |
| [11 – Computer Science and Informatics](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#computer) | Engineering and Informatics | 26.90 | 47 | 49 | 96 | 3.43 | 22 |
| [12 – Engineering](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#engineering) | Engineering and Informatics | 26.20 | 11 | 74 | 85 | 2.94 | 48 |
| [14 – Geography and Environmental Studies](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#geography) | Global Studies (Geography) | 32.05 | 45 | 49 | 94 | 3.38 | 13 |
| [16 – Economics and Econometrics](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#economics) | University of Sussex Business School | 22.60 | 37 | 60 | 97 | 3.34 | 13 |
| [17 – Business and Management Studies](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#business) | University of Sussex Business School | 105.85 | 39 | 47 | 86 | 3.23 | 28 |
| [18 – Law](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#law) | Law, Politics and Sociology | 55.90 | 34 | 43 | 77 | 3.11 | 30 |
| [19 – Politics and International Studies](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#politics) | Global Studies (International Relations) | 29.25 | 44 | 47 | 91 | 3.35 | 13 |
| [20 – Social Work and Social Policy](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#social) | Education and Social Work | 15.00 | 23 | 72 | 95 | 3.18 | 26 |
| [21 – Sociology](#sociology) | Law, Politics and Sociology | 18.50 | 45 | 40 | 85 | 3.28 | 12 |
| [22 – Anthropology and Development Studies](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#anthropology) | Global Studies (Anthropology) | 26.80 | 41 | 51 | 92 | 3.33 | 7 |
| [23 – Education](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#education) | Education and Social Work | 20.60 | 57 | 31 | 88 | 3.44 | 12 |
| [25 – Area Studies](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#area-studies) | Law, Politics and Sociology (Politics) | 16.00 | 42 | 54 | 96 | 3.38 | 10 |
| [27 – English language and literature](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#english) | Media, Arts and Humanities (English) | 39.00 | 58 | 36 | 94 | 3.52 | 14 |
| [28 – History](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#history) | Media, Arts and Humanities (History) | 30.10 | 54 | 35 | 89 | 3.41 | 15 |
| [30 – Philosophy](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#philosophy) | Media, Arts and Humanities (Philosophy) | 12.00 | 37 | 48 | 85 | 3.22 | 14 |
| [32 – Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#art) | Media, Arts and Humanities (Art History) | 9.00 | 61 | 36 | 97 | 3.58 | 8 |
| [33 – Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#music) | Media, Arts and Humanities (Music, Drama) | 15.00 | 35 | 52 | 87 | 3.19 | 34 |
| [34 – Communication, Cultural and Media Studies](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#communication) | Media, Arts and Humanities (Media, Journalism & Cultural Studies; Film Studies; Creative & Critical Media Practice) | 45.10 | 51 | 43 | 94 | 3.42 | 11 |
- † = joint submission with University of Brighton: Total FTE of submitted staff for joint submission – 120
- **GPA (THE)** and **GPA Rank (THE)** data from [Times Higher Education (THE)](https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/ref-2021-subject-rankings)
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### Results by panel
View our combined overall results for the Units of Assessment within each of the main REF panels.
[You can also view a breakdown of scores within each panel](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/ref/results/by-unit-of-assessment#panel).
| Category | Measure | FTE | 4\* | 3\* | U/C | 4\*/3\* | GPA (THE) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| University of Sussex (All units) | Overall | 885.75 | 40.6 | 48.4 | 0.3 | 89 | 3.28 |
| Main panel A: Medicine, Health and Life Sciences (UoAs 1, 3, 4, 5) | Overall | 116.51 | 38.6 | 48.9 | 0.5 | 87.5 | 3.25 |
| Main panel B: Physical Sciences, Engineering and Informatics (UoAs 8, 9,10,11,12) | Overall | 90.12 | 34.1 | 57.7 | 0 | 91.9 | 3.25 |
| Main panel C: Social Sciences (UoAs 14, 16,17,18,19, 20, 21, 22, 23) | Overall | 197.35 | 39.9 | 47.5 | 0.3 | 87.4 | 3.26 |
| Main panel D: Arts and Humanities (UoAs 25, 27, 28, 30, 32, 33, 34) | Overall | 119.3 | 50.4 | 41.8 | 0 | 92.2 | 3.41 |
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### Key
- **Unit of Assessment** – each subject area, defined by REF 2021, to which we made a submission
- **Department(s)** – the primary University of Sussex Department (or School) who submitted to each Unit of Assessment
- **FTE** – the combined ‘full-time equivalent’ of the set of staff submitted in each Unit of Assessment
- **4\*** – four star: Quality that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour
- **3\*** – three star: Quality that is internationally excellent in terms of originality, significance and rigour but which falls short of the highest standards of excellence
- **2\*** – two star: Quality that is recognised internationally in terms of originality, significance and rigour
- **1\*** – one star: Quality that is recognised nationally in terms of originality, significance and rigour
- **u/c** – the percentage of research that was “unclassified”
- **GPA** – (Grade Point Average) – a metric calculated by the Times Higher Education, and used in its rankings.
## More
[View and compare results for all UK HEI on the REF 2021 website](https://www.ref.ac.uk/).
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## You might also be interested in:
- [exploring our research](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/explore-our-research)
- [more about our research environment](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/about)
- [our research programmes, centres and groups](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/centres/).