REF 2021's social sciences panel reviewed research from eight different areas of study at Brunel, represented by 255 of our researchers.
It encompassed Anthropology and Development Studies research with partners in India and Rwanda; Business and Management Studies research involving Greek, Bangladeshi and other partners across the globe; and Economics and Econometrics research with the Bank of England, the European Central Bank, the IMF and the OECD.
We raised £1.4 million of investment for our Education research since the last REF in 2014, and our achievements in Law include leading a Horizon 2020 project, totalling £4.78 million, on managing migration flows. Our Politics and International Studies research involved 41 countries, from Albania to Zambia; our Sociology research income has more than trebled since 2014; and our research submitted to the Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism Unit of Assessment has had impact across the Commonwealth.
Results highlights
Only UK university to have 100% of anthropology papers world-leading or internationally excellent
100% of our politics impact case studies world-leading or internationally excellent
100% of our sociology impact case studies world-leading or internationally excellent
Research power places our Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences 7th best in the country among research-intensive universities
| REF Unit of Assessment (click for full details) |
College |
Subjects |
World leading or internationally excellent research |
4* |
3* |
2* |
1* |
FTE equivalent |
| Anthropology and Development Studies (UoA 22) |
College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences
|
Anthropology
|
88.0% |
17.0% |
71.0% |
12.0% |
0.0% |
11 |
| Business and Management Studies (UoA 17) |
College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences
|
Business School
|
64.0% |
19.0% |
45.0% |
25.0% |
11.0% |
72 |
| Economics and Econometrics (UoA 16) |
College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences
|
Economics and finance
|
61.0% |
1.0% |
60.0% |
29.0% |
9.0% |
37.6 |
| Education (UoA 23) |
College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences
|
Education
|
53.0% |
10.0% |
43.0% |
43.0% |
4.0% |
18.2 |
| Law (UoA 18) |
College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences
|
Law
|
60.0% |
26.0% |
34.0% |
37.0% |
3.0% |
38.5 |
| Politics and International Studies (UoA 19) |
College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences
|
History, Politics and International Relations
|
80.0% |
20.0% |
60.0% |
20.0% |
0.0% |
27.0 |
| Sociology (UoA 21) |
College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences
|
Journalism, Sociology
|
69.0% |
18.0% |
51.0% |
30.0% |
1.0% |
19.6 |
| Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism (UoA 24) |
College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
|
Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences
|
94.0% |
36.0% |
58.0% |
6.0% |
0.0% |
26.0 |
| Anthropology and Development Studies (UoA 22) |
4* |
3* |
2* |
1* |
U/C |
| Overall |
17.0% |
71.0% |
12.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| Output (65%) |
28.6% |
71.4% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| Impact (20%) |
0.0% |
50.0% |
50.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| Environment (15%) |
0.0% |
100.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
88% of research in Anthropology and Development Studies at Brunel is world leading or internationally excellent
Rwanda’s ‘Uber for motorbike taxis’ triumph
An uber-style phone app that helps motorbike taxi riders find careful drivers and makes the streets safer transforms transport across Africa. - Example of REF 2021 Case Study Read more
| Business and Management Studies (UoA 17) |
4* |
3* |
2* |
1* |
U/C |
| Overall |
19.0% |
45.0% |
25.0% |
11.0% |
0.0% |
| Output (65%) |
21.1% |
52.2% |
25.0% |
1.7% |
0.0% |
| Impact (20%) |
25.0% |
16.7% |
16.6% |
41.7% |
0.0% |
| Environment (15%) |
0.0% |
62.5% |
37.5% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
64% of research in Business and Management at Brunel is world-leading or internationally excellent
Business brains helping Uganda dairy farmers milk it
Waste-saving ideas borrowed from Japanese car makers are the magic formula helping Uganda’s dairy farmers - Example of REF 2021 Case Study Read more
| Economics and Econometrics (UoA 16) |
4* |
3* |
2* |
1* |
U/C |
| Overall |
1.0% |
60.0% |
29.0% |
9.0% |
1.0% |
| Output (65%) |
1.1% |
57.4% |
35.1% |
5.3% |
1.1% |
| Impact (20%) |
0.0% |
50.0% |
25.0% |
25.0% |
0.0% |
| Environment (15%) |
0.0% |
87.5% |
12.5% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
61% of research in Economics and Econometrics at Brunel is world-leading or internationally excellent
Caribbean pensions on a better financial footing
An outstanding example of how effective pension reforms can have a fundamental impact on both regulators and at-risk people in several countries. - Example of REF 2021 Case Study Read more
| Education (UoA 23) |
4* |
3* |
2* |
1* |
U/C |
| Overall |
10.0% |
43.0% |
43.0% |
4.0% |
0.0% |
| Output (65%) |
17.4% |
47.8% |
28.3% |
6.5% |
0.0% |
| Impact (20%) |
0.0% |
25.0% |
75.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| Environment (15%) |
0.0% |
50.0% |
50.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
53% of research in Education at Brunel is world-leading or internationally excellent
Helping housing associations offer hope
Dr Wainwright drew on geographies and sociologies of education, training and welfare to help housing associations design smarter services for their residents - Example of REF 2021 Case Study Read more
| Law (UoA 18) |
4* |
3* |
2* |
1* |
U/C |
| Overall |
26.0% |
34.0% |
37.0% |
3.0% |
0.0% |
| Output (65%) |
21.8% |
34.5% |
39.1% |
4.6% |
0.0% |
| Impact (20%) |
50.0% |
25.0% |
25.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| Environment (15%) |
0.0% |
50.0% |
50.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
64% of research in Law at Brunel is world-leading or internationally excellent
Problems with family courts exposed
Dr Barnett has changed public opinion, shaped the political agenda and changed laws and legal practice to help domestic abuse survivors and their children. - Example of REF 2021 Case Study Read more
| Politics and International Studies (UoA 19) |
4* |
3* |
2* |
1* |
U/C |
| Overall |
20.0% |
60.0% |
20.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| Output (65%) |
16.2% |
55.9% |
27.9% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| Impact (20%) |
33.3% |
66.7% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| Environment (15%) |
12.5% |
62.5% |
25.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
80% of research in Politics and International Studies at Brunel is world-leading or internationally excellent
21st century poachers: How intelligence experts are helping save the rhino
Intelligence-led approach helps parks reduce their poaching incidents and increase poaching arrests. - Example of REF 2021 Case Study Read more
| Sociology (UoA 21) |
4* |
3* |
2* |
1* |
U/C |
| Overall |
18.0% |
51.0% |
30.0% |
1.0% |
0.0% |
| Output (65%) |
30.6% |
32.7% |
34.7% |
2.0% |
0.0% |
| Impact (20%) |
0.0% |
100.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| Environment (15%) |
0.0% |
37.5% |
62.5% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
69% of research in Sociology at Brunel is world-leading or internationally excellent
Sensing our need for authentic experiences of cities
Research shaping new ways of thinking and informing new working practices for museum curators, educators, architects and urban planners - Example of REF 2021 Case Study Read more
| Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism (UoA 24) |
4* |
3* |
2* |
1* |
U/C |
| Overall |
36.0% |
58.0% |
6.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| Output (65%) |
29.2% |
61.6% |
9.2% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| Impact (20%) |
50.0% |
50.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
| Environment (15%) |
37.5% |
62.5% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
94% of research in Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism was rated as world leading or internationally excellent
Making the beautiful game fair play
Sports sociologist, Dr Laura Hills’ research into mixed gender football directly set up five far-reaching changes in national policy - Example of REF 2021 Case Study Read more
