Outstanding REF Performance: Research in the Department of Politics has been either rated world-leading or internationally excellent

The REF results establish the Department of Politics as a top department in the UK and around the world.

84 per cent of research in the Department of Politics was rated at 4* or internationally excellent (3*), compared to a national Unit of Assessment average of 68 per cent. This success reflects a research strategy, implemented since the last assessment exercise in 2008, that has systematically strengthened research in the department across all its core areas, spanning public policy, comparative politics, international relations and political theory.

Prof Andrew Massey, Head of Department, commented:

"The REF confirms the position of Exeter's Politics and International Relations department amongst the UK's leaders. It also reaffirms Politics' research importance in terms of impact and global substance. I am delighted with this result and look forward to our continuing to deliver work of such significance."

The three Politics impact case studies covered areas as diverse as:

• the shaping of land policy and management in the UK (Centre for Rural Policy Research),
• the improvement of the quality of electoral administration in New Zealand (Centre of Elections, Media and Participation)
• the shaping of thinking on regulation in the EU, OECD and beyond (Centre for European Governance).

These case studies were judged to be either world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*) and reflect not only the quality and breadth of the research conducted in the Department of Politics but also its real world impact in multiple areas of politics and policy.

Prof Claudio Radaelli, Director of the Centre for European Governance, who led the development of one of the case studies, said:

"These results show the many ways in which a world-class community of researchers contribute to learning in public policy and politics, at a time where the dilemmas of European integration and the crisis of democracy pose challenging questions that cannot be handled with 'business as usual' research. We produce research that matters, not only for the profession of political science but also for international organisations, society, and public policy."