Our reputation
33rd in the world for Transportation Science and Technology, ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024
The Institute for Transport Studies is one of the UK's leading departments for transport teaching and research. We deliver internationally excellent research outputs, which impact upon transport policy and practice, and contribute to the wider economy and society. We have a diverse international community and a global alumni network. We have just almost 200 students from over 35 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.
We are continually committed to meeting the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard and improve the quality management of our research, development and consultancy contracts.
Academic excellence
- 33rd in the world for Transportation Science and Technology, ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024
- The University of Leeds is ranked 82nd in the world, QS World University Rankings 2025
- University of Leeds students are among the top 5 most targeted by top employers according to The Graduate Market 2024, High Fliers Research
- We are a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities
- Awarded a prestigious Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education (2009) for ‘Forty years’ sustained excellence in teaching and applied research in transport.’
- In Engineering, 97% of the research outputs submitted were assessed as “world leading”, Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
Gender equality
We have been commended for our strong and continued commitment to gender equality in the form of a prestigious Athena SWAN Silver award.
Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
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), known as REF. The funding bodies use the outcomes to inform the allocation of their research funding to HEIs.
In REF 2021 the Institute contributed to both Engineering (UoA12) and Geography (UoA14):
- Our research has been recognised as truly impactful with 95% of our research contributions to society, and industry from Engineering (UoA12) ranked as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ and 90% ranked as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ from Geography (UoA14).
- In Engineering, 97% of the research outputs submitted were assessed as “world leading” or “internationally excellent”.
- In Geography 93% of the research outputs were assessed as “world leading” or “internationally excellent”