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Department of Chemistry

RAE2008 (Details)

RAE08 & Durham University

The 2008 Research Assessment Exercise or RAE08 aimed to produce quality profiles for each submission of research activity (Unit of Assessment or UoA) made by higher education institutions.

The four higher education funding bodies (HEFCE, HEFCW, DEL and SFC) will use the quality profiles to determine their grant for research to the institutions which they fund with effect from 2009-10. Any HEI in the UK that is eligible to receive research funding from one of these bodies was eligible to participate. The results of the RAE determine how much money the University will be awarded for its general research activities as well as feeding in to league tables.

Durham University is a medium-sized higher-education institution with a renowned, research-led culture and success in RAE08 in terms of both the volume and quality of our research input reflects this commitment to excellence.

Durham University's International Quality

The University submitted a higher number of research active staff than any of our comparator institutions in the 1994 Group.

90% of the research which our staff submitted was assessed as being at least of International Quality (2* and above) in terms of originality, significance and rigour.

This is a higher percentage than many of the larger institutions which form the Russell Group of UK universities.

See an overview of Durham's RAE success

Reaction

Professor Tom McLeish, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research at Durham says: "This is an excellent set of results for Durham University reflecting the international breadth and significance of our Departments' research." Professor Judith Howard, Head of Department in Chemistry adds: "Durham Chemistry has a long track record of excellence in research, and a highly-motivated and talented group of staff.  It provides an environment where innovative chemical and interdisciplinary research and those performing the research can flourish."

What does Durham's RAE result really mean for prospective students?

With 90% of Durham's research assessed as being of International Quality and examples of World-Leading (4*) research excellence in every department, you are guaranteed to study in an academic environment of great quality. More importantly, we invite you to actively participate in our research environment through research projects on our four year courses, research-focussed dissertations, seminars, conferences and workshops.

If thinking of coming to Durham for post-graduate research at PhD or Masters level you will know that you are entering a research environment second to none, will be receiving the guidance of scholars and researchers at the very front of their field internationally, and be given the chance to participate in your chosen research field at the global level.