The Cambridge Department of Architecture has been ranked top by the Times Higher Educational Supplement in the UK’s Research Excellence Framework for research quality in a joint submission with Land Economy, one of four Cambridge University disciplines to have achieved first place in their respective Units of Assessment alongside Clinical Medicine, Earth Sciences and Business. A remarkable 56.9% of all of our research outputs are ranked 4*, ‘world leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour’ and 39.7% are ranked 3*, ‘internationally excellent’, whilst 87.5% of our research impact studies are ranked 4*.
Professor James Campbell remarked: “We are delighted to have this external validation of our research. In the next few years we will be adding more staff and expanding our student numbers in the run up to the start of the new Design Tripos in 2024, we have added the new Apprenticeship in Architecture, and we have opened our new Digital Fabrication Laboratory. We are proud of our research record. Our academics are actively involved in research across the Department. These results support our drive to expand in the coming years, with more academics allowing us to increase the research we do. I would like to thank all my colleagues for the hard work they have done in putting this application together and continue to do in producing outstanding research in so many vital areas.”
Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, said: “I would like to congratulate and thank everyone who has taken part in this year’s REF for all their hard work, which has led to this outstanding result. This is our most inclusive submission yet, and we have seen strong performances across the board, from Clinical Medicine and Earth Sciences through o Architecture, Sociology and Music.”