Cambridge University has received 48 top 5 grades in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise, with 30 departments receiving the ultimate 5* accolade. A total of 51 departments were assessed and none was graded less than 4.

Cambridge's results were revealed today by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, along with those for all other higher education institutions involved in research.

The RAE is the national scrutiny procedure for evaluating the quality of university research. Teams of experts assess departments on a number of different factors including the submitted publications of active researchers.

Scores are ranked from 1-5*, with Grade 5 given to departments judged to have attained levels of international excellence in some areas, and national excellence in virtually all others.

An additional 5* mark denotes exceptional departments which have reached levels of international excellence in the majority of its subject areas, and national excellence in all others. Cambridge is outstanding for the range of its research of international standard.

Professor Sir Alec Broers, Vice Chancellor of Cambridge University, welcomed the 2001 result, but sounded a cautionary note on its funding implications.
"We are very pleased with the results of the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise, which demonstrates that Cambridge is not only maintaining, but driving forward its reputation as a centre of international excellence in research. These results are a tribute to the outstanding intellectual achievements of our researchers, supported by the team of administrators who pulled together the University's submission.

"Cambridge's strong partnerships with industry and with research charities are clearly vital to its research record, but resources from HEFCE allow us to lay the foundations for those research programmes.

  • RAE 1996: Cambridge received 44 top 5 grades out of 51 departments assessed. Of these, 27 were ranked as 5*, the mark that signifies they have attained levels of international excellence in the majority of subject.
  • Nobel Prizes: Cambridge has produced 75 Nobel Laureates since 1904 - more than any other University. This year, Dr Tim Hunt, a Fellow of Clare College and a former University Lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry (1981-1990), was one of the three scientists who won the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine.
  • British Academy: Over 140 Cambridge academics are fellows of the British Academy, with 29 elected between 1997 and 2001.
  • Royal Society: Over 150 Cambridge academics are fellows of the Royal Society, with 20 elected between 1997 and 2001.
  • Royal Academy of Engineering: 27 Cambridge academics are fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
  • Academy of Medical Sciences: 74 Cambridge academics are fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences.

University of Cambridge RAE results in full
Clinical Laboratory Sciences 5*
Community Based Clinical Subjects 5*
Hospital Based Clinical Subjects 5*

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