Our reputation

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.

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

• 27^th in the world for Transportation Science and Technology, ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2025
• 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

University of Leeds rankings

• 86th in the world, QS World University Rankings 2026 
• 6th most targeted by employers, High Fliers 2025 Report 
• 21st in the UK, Complete University Guide 
• Top 10 UK student city, Best Student Cities 2025 
• We are a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities 

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). 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 2021.

Unit of assessment: Institute for Transport Studies

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”