1. Faculty of Environment
  2. School of Geography
  3. Research and innovation
  4. Our reputation

Our reputation

Student experience

16th in the world for Geography, ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2020

The School of Geography is globally renowned for the quality of its research, and the funding it attracts, meaning we’re able to invest in world-class facilities and academic staff who are actively engaged in cutting-edge research. Our academics are internationally renowned and working at the top of their fields – at the forefront of knowledge and thinking. 

We have just over 1000 students from almost 50 countries studying with us.

The quality of our research, and the funding it attracts, means we’re able to invest in world-class facilities and academic staff who are actively engaged in cutting-edge research, which means you will be taught by internationally renowned, inspirational academics working at the top of their fields.

The School is led by Professor Robert M Vanderbeck, Head of School, supported by Professor Guy Ziv, Director of Research and Innovation, and Dr Clare Woulds Director of Student Education.

Our achievements

University awards

  • The University of Leeds is among the top 100 universities, QS World University Rankings 2021
  • We achieved a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) the highest award possible
  • The University of Leeds was named University of the Year in 2017 by The Times and The Sunday Times’ Good University Guide
  • University of Leeds students are among the top 5 most targeted by top employers according to The Graduate Market 2021, High Fliers Research
  • We are a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities

Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014

Every six years, the UK’s four higher education funding bodies undertake an exercise to measure the quality of research undertaken by UK higher education institutions (HEIs). The funding bodies use the outcomes to inform the allocation of their research funding to HEIs. The Research Excellence Framework was the framework used in 2014.

Unit of assessment: Geography, Environmental Studies and Archaeology

  • 3.07 overall research quality profile
  • 5th in the UK for research power
  • 100% of our research environment is conducive to producing research of ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ quality
  • Over 70% of our research has either ‘outstanding’ or ‘very considerable’ impact
  • Over 75% of our research is ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’
  • Over 70% of our research outputs are ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’

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