Research

University receives 28 per cent increase in research funding

Published 5 March 2009

The University of Brighton has been awarded a 28 per cent increase in funding for its research work from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). This is against a sector rise of 8 per cent.

The grant allocation follows a national review of all UK universities research – the Research Assessment Exercise 2008 (RAE) – which concluded that 79 per cent of the University of Brighton's research output is of international standing.

The result moves the university up to 49th place in terms of its research funding from the government and positions us alongside other universities such as Keele, Aston and the University of the Arts London.

The university has now been recognised as one of the sector's "rising research stars" by the Times Higher Education, moving 21 places up the league tables, and was ranked as the leading modern university in terms of its research quality by Research Fortnight.

The increase in funding will equate to an extra £7.5m in income over the next five years. This means that the university can further develop its ground breaking research to tackle big and immediate problems, such as helping small and medium sized business in the economic downturn through our successful ProfitNet scheme. The university's research is also tackling global issues including diabetes and water pollution, and undertaking research in the creative arts and applied social sciences.

The University of Brighton's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Julian Crampton, said: "These results prove what we have known for a long time, that the University of Brighton is now a serious research institution."

"The university has succeeded in broadening its research base and has driven up the quality of research across a larger range of subject areas. Overall, we are determined this work will make substantial contributions to social, economic and cultural well-being. For us there are only two types of research — applied research and yet to be applied research."

"In the broader context the city is fortunate to have two universities identified as undertaking world leading research."