English first in the UK on research quality

Posted on 23 December 2014

York’s Department of English and Related Literature has emphatically demonstrated its position at the forefront of UK English departments for research. The 2014 REF results released on 18th December place York English second in the UK to Warwick, and first on 4* (“world-leading”) research quality.

staff celebrate the REF 2014 results

Other headline findings are that York was first on its research environment, achieving 100%. On the new category, research “impact,” York was 9th, still an excellent result. It shows that while the department is excellent in traditional terms, it is also nimble enough to compete with more market-oriented institutions.

David Attwell, Head of Department, comments, “Our performance in REF2014 is a stunning achievement. We were first in 2008, which is the most challenging position to sustain. We can’t ask for more from a department that delivers 61% of its research as world-leading, the very best in the UK. The staff and our students at all levels will be mightily encouraged by this confirmation of the quality of the work done at York.”

Further information is available on the University's website and at Times Higher Education.