OU Research Portfolio

The University supports a broad and vibrant research and enterprise portfolio and fosters research teams able to compete with the best in the world.

The results of the UK’s latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008) placed The Open University in the UK’s top 50 higher education institutions, according to the Times Higher Education Table of Excellence published on 18 December 2008. The University achieved the second largest improvement in UK research rankings, rising 23 places to 43rd.

More than 50% of the University’s research is rated ‘internationally excellent’ (3*) and 14% is ‘world-leading’ (4*). Submissions to the RAE were made by each of the OU’s seven faculties.

The RAE results evidence the quality and stature of the University and its research.

The University’s design group - spanning design thinking, through to sustainability and complexity - now ranks third in the UK out of a field of 72.
The Centre for Research in Computing leapt firmly into the top 20, achieving joint 16th place with Bristol, Bath, York and Aberystwyth Universities.
The strength and excellence of the research supported by the OU Centre for Earth, Planetary, Space and Astronomical Research was also acknowledged with more than 70% of its multidisciplinary submission deemed world leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*).