99% of the research in Materials is internationally excellent

Imperial College London has been named in the top 3 best universities in the UK for Materials Science in the REF 2014.

Imperial College London has been named in the top 3 best universities in the UK for MaterialsScience in the REF 2014.  The Department of Materials was ranked third, behind the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, with 99% of its research declared world-leading.

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) assesses the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The Department of Materials climbed from 6^th place in 2008 to 3^rd . This achievement is the result of the combination of a number of factors, from an increase in its research income by 159% to jumping 10 places to 4th in the QS World ranking 2014. The Department has also increased the number of talented and passionate staff recruited in the last five years and has seen significant cultural changes resulting in a Silver Athena Swan Award for female-friendly working practices.

This comprehensive review takes place every 6 years and is used by Higher Education funding bodies to inform the research grant allocations over the forthcoming years. It is also an important way to provide accountability for public investment in research and details of the health and reputation of institutions and academic departments.

Professor Neil Alford MBE FREng, Head of Department iof Materials says: “I am delighted with the outcome of our REF.  Since RAE 2008 our strategy has been to increase quality across the board – in our papers and in our environment – our laboratories and facilities.  This strategy is, of course, implemented by all the outstanding staff in our Department who have risen to the challenge of enabling and  producing superb quality research.

Over the last few years the Department’s complexion has changed enormously.  We are strengthening capability in core themes and we are carrying out research in entirely new areas. We are  using new processing routes to make novel materials that we can characterise using world leading characterisation facilities.  This places us in a very strong position to take the Materials Science and Engineering forward with new and exciting discoveries.”

Materials is a dynamic team of 40 academic staff, over 150 PhD students and 80 post-doctoral staff dedicated to continue to deliver outstanding research in Materials Science and Engineering. The Department will continue to invest in state-of-the arts equipment to facilitate this research and to develop long-lasting relationships with colleagues in academia and partners in industry. 

The REF 2014 was conducted jointly by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) and the Department for Employment and Learning, Northern Ireland (DEL).