Thursday, 10 April 2014

A league Table that Matters (for Engineering and Physical Sciences)



It is an unfortunate fact of academic life that league tables matter. They matter not because they are inherently good things, but because people pay attention to them. University leaders care, parents care, students care, foreign students care, employers care. They should not care so much, because most league tables are foolish time-wasting restatements of average A-level grades and little more. Essentially, universities are ranked by the undergraduate students that attend.

There is an exception. There is an excellent one produced by the bibliometricians at the University of Leiden who use a variety of measures of paper productivity and quality to create a ranking system. Although this is an excellent resource, it has limitations. The table is concerned with science so is less useful for other areas. The creators seem mostly concerned with the best universities so the tables do not really give a sense of the full range of what can be expected from rather less distinguished universities. Finally, for the UK only about a third of the universities are listed.

What to do?  Answer, get help from EPSRC (The Engineering and Physical Science Research Council). 

The EPSRC funds scientific research AND also provides data on where those funds go. The data from 2012/13 is here. This provides data for attempts to obtain funding, conversion, total funds awarded etc. This is the input side of the UK University scientific research enterprise. This can be sorted to obtain a league table relating to Engineering and Physical Sciences. 

There are two metrics considered here. There is the number of proposals funded. This is an index of ideas deemed by peer review and the research council to be worth funding. These are the ideas that will create the university's future. The other is success rate. This is an index of the competitiveness of the researchers generating new ideas at an institution. This second one is a bit tricky because at the high end it is subject to the vagaries of small sample sizes, but it is still worth contemplating.

UK universities sorted by both of these metrics are listed below (as is all the data). In the rank by number of proposals, there are not so many surprises. But in the success rate index, there are. Setting aside the few at the top which are subject to the problems of small numbers, there are a few surprises. Oxford does not make the top 20 and Cambridge barely does. What this means is that there are pockets of excellent science in some unexpected places and there are opportunities in those universities to work with excellent researchers for a student willing to take the time. 

Before finishing, an apology. One of my pet peeves is the modern obsession with the last data point (this video explains why this is a bad thing). Please accept my apologies for presenting this as a single year.




Rank by fundable ideas:
Rank
Organisation
Total number of research proposals considered
Number of research proposals funded
% Funding rate by number
Total value of research proposals considered
Value of research proposals funded
% Funding rate by value
1
University College London
177
76
43%
151,898,494
81,894,518
54%
2
Imperial College London
215
69
32%
182,858,481
59,547,192
33%
3
University of Cambridge
116
49
42%
125,168,353
67,039,995
54%
4
University of Oxford
121
43
36%
81,868,450
21,079,033
26%
5
University of Bristol
98
42
43%
80,861,747
34,955,056
43%
6
University of Warwick
109
41
38%
73,634,307
31,295,359
43%
7
The University of Manchester
125
38
30%
82,969,932
27,168,293
33%
8
University of Sheffield
113
38
34%
83,653,607
24,390,110
29%
9
University of Leeds
83
31
37%
50,109,395
18,594,362
37%
10
University of Southampton
90
31
34%
41,243,114
16,451,281
40%
11
University of Nottingham
86
30
35%
72,815,137
27,046,795
37%
12
University of Bath
94
29
31%
60,789,852
25,513,404
42%
13
University of Edinburgh
75
28
37%
57,419,900
30,524,784
53%
14
Newcastle University
55
24
44%
52,395,451
22,784,557
43%
15
University of Liverpool
63
24
38%
39,792,268
11,985,869
30%
16
University of Strathclyde
74
23
31%
51,365,657
16,929,523
33%
17
Cardiff University
53
22
42%
31,191,330
12,002,146
38%
18
Loughborough University
58
22
38%
52,364,689
20,566,754
39%
19
Durham University
43
21
49%
22,256,391
10,984,571
49%
20
University of Birmingham
67
21
31%
44,939,520
13,229,351
29%
21
Lancaster University
38
20
53%
21,388,892
8,844,983
41%
22
University of Glasgow
48
17
35%
47,219,137
23,948,483
51%
23
King's College London
48
15
31%
16,790,091
2,988,748
18%
24
University of Exeter
49
15
31%
23,875,970
7,044,042
30%
25
University of York
41
15
37%
26,186,804
9,138,981
35%
26
Brunel University
39
14
36%
22,987,936
11,949,185
52%
27
Heriot-Watt University
49
14
29%
35,628,165
11,656,495
33%
28
Queen's University of Belfast
35
12
34%
26,934,491
10,336,054
38%
29
Cranfield University
46
10
22%
25,877,431
4,511,361
17%
30
University of St Andrews
33
10
30%
18,598,220
6,660,201
36%
31
Queen Mary, University of London
43
9
21%
17,949,342
3,436,930
19%
32
University of Surrey
61
9
15%
29,291,237
3,613,891
12%
33
Royal Holloway, Univ of London
14
8
57%
6,317,224
3,598,978
57%
34
University of Aberdeen
16
7
44%
9,397,157
3,405,566
36%
35
De Montfort University
14
6
43%
6,318,695
2,406,769
38%
36
Open University
19
6
32%
7,603,128
1,300,427
17%
37
Swansea University
27
6
22%
22,023,324
4,716,297
21%
38
University of Dundee
14
6
43%
18,016,949
8,121,898
45%
39
University of East Anglia
17
5
29%
5,324,459
892,486
17%
40
University of Kent
14
5
36%
3,890,258
664,053
17%
41
University of Leicester
17
5
29%
6,286,485
1,281,111
20%
42
University of Reading
17
5
29%
6,598,284
1,755,610
27%
43
University of Ulster
11
5
45%
4,405,034
2,677,818
61%
44
Aston University
8
4
50%
2,696,568
2,239,856
83%
45
University of Plymouth
5
4
80%
1,481,365
1,157,074
78%
46
City University London
7
3
43%
3,551,957
1,522,601
43%
47
Manchester Metropolitan University
5
3
60%
1,348,569
774,385
57%
48
Northumbria University
10
3
30%
3,501,519
1,458,259
42%
49
University of Greenwich
5
3
60%
915,163
728,059
80%
50
University of Hull
10
3
30%
4,449,550
310,363
7%
51
University of Salford
10
3
30%
4,962,922
1,176,128
24%
52
University of Sussex
13
3
23%
10,756,276
3,951,483
37%
53
Aberystwyth University
5
2
40%
1,246,869
289,624
23%
54
City University
7
2
29%
2,491,376
207,330
8%
55
Glyndwr University
6
2
33%
2,535,139
569,320
22%
56
Nottingham Trent University
7
2
29%
1,336,450
156,119
12%
57
University of Brighton
7
2
29%
1,641,575
438,923
27%
58
University of Central Lancashire
7
2
29%
3,232,697
164,132
5%
59
University of Huddersfield
7
2
29%
3,357,981
653,831
19%
60
Bangor University
2
1
50%
643,556
231,548
36%
61
Coventry University
6
1
17%
2,259,288
477,591
21%
62
Edinburgh Napier University
6
1
17%
1,076,504
238,068
22%
63
Goldsmiths College
1
1
100%
130,751
130,751
100%
64
Keele University
8
1
13%
1,143,491
15,762
1%
65
London School of Economics & Pol Sci
3
1
33%
266,294
93,836
35%
66
Oxford Brookes University
6
1
17%
2,563,759
1,184,087
46%
67
University of Hertfordshire
6
1
17%
2,311,986
375,542
16%
68
University of Portsmouth
7
1
14%
1,188,675
752,949
63%
69
University of Stirling
5
1
20%
2,598,610
1,228,231
47%
70
University of the Highlands and Islands
1
1
100%
116,054
116,054
100%
71
University of the West of England
12
1
8%
7,698,034
49,730
1%
72
University of the West of Scotland
3
1
33%
301,679
99,872
33%
73
Birkbeck College
2
0
0%
1,649,467
0
0%
74
Birmingham City University
3
0
0%
444,318
0
0%
75
Bournemouth University
3
0
0%
658,830
0
0%
76
Cardiff Metropolitan University
1
0
0%
280,056
0
0%
77
Glasgow Caledonian University
4
0
0%
1,402,026
0
0%
78
Kingston University
4
0
0%
633,880
0
0%
79
Leeds Metropolitan University
1
0
0%
220,878
0
0%
80
Liverpool John Moores University
4
0
0%
1,092,417
0
0%
81
London Metropolitan University
2
0
0%
915,227
0
0%
82
London South Bank University
2
0
0%
498,243
0
0%
83
Middlesex University
5
0
0%
8,415,091
0
0%
84
Royal College of Art
1
0
0%
1,126,393
0
0%
85
Sheffield Hallam University
4
0
0%
1,792,553
0
0%
86
Southampton Solent University
1
0
0%
272,421
0
0%
87
Swansea Metropolitan University
1
0
0%
75,586
0
0%
88
The Robert Gordon University
2
0
0%
1,910,764
0
0%
89
University of Abertay Dundee
2
0
0%
430,496
0
0%
90
University of Bedfordshire
2
0
0%
311,628
0
0%
91
University of Bolton
2
0
0%
1,220,192
0
0%
92
University of Bradford
9
0
0%
1,916,361
0
0%
93
University of Derby
2
0
0%
189,508
0
0%
94
University of East London
2
0
0%
196,302
0
0%
95
University of Essex
6
0
0%
1,878,555
0
0%
96
University of Glamorgan
7
0
0%
4,342,748
0
0%
97
University of Lincoln
4
0
0%
709,562
0
0%
98
University of Northampton
4
0
0%
504,265
0
0%
99
University of Teesside
1
0
0%
268,146
0
0%
100
University of Westminster
1
0
0%
4,067,836
0
0%


Competitiveness (%funding rate by number)

Rank
Organisation
Total number of research proposals considered
Number of research proposals funded
% Funding rate by number
Total value of research proposals considered
Value of research proposals funded
% Funding rate by value
1
Goldsmiths College
1
1
100%
130,751
130,751
100%
2
University of the Highlands and Islands
1
1
100%
116,054
116,054
100%
3
University of Plymouth
5
4
80%
1,481,365
1,157,074
78%
4
Manchester Metropolitan University
5
3
60%
1,348,569
774,385
57%
5
University of Greenwich
5
3
60%
915,163
728,059
80%
6
Royal Holloway, Univ of London
14
8
57%
6,317,224
3,598,978
57%
7
Lancaster University
38
20
53%
21,388,892
8,844,983
41%
8
Aston University
8
4
50%
2,696,568
2,239,856
83%
9
Bangor University
2
1
50%
643,556
231,548
36%
10
Durham University
43
21
49%
22,256,391
10,984,571
49%
11
University of Ulster
11
5
45%
4,405,034
2,677,818
61%
12
Newcastle University
55
24
44%
52,395,451
22,784,557
43%
13
University of Aberdeen
16
7
44%
9,397,157
3,405,566
36%
14
University College London
177
76
43%
151,898,494
81,894,518
54%
15
University of Bristol
98
42
43%
80,861,747
34,955,056
43%
16
De Montfort University
14
6
43%
6,318,695
2,406,769
38%
17
University of Dundee
14
6
43%
18,016,949
8,121,898
45%
18
City University London
7
3
43%
3,551,957
1,522,601
43%
19
University of Cambridge
116
49
42%
125,168,353
67,039,995
54%
20
Cardiff University
53
22
42%
31,191,330
12,002,146
38%
21
Aberystwyth University
5
2
40%
1,246,869
289,624
23%
22
University of Warwick
109
41
38%
73,634,307
31,295,359
43%
23
University of Liverpool
63
24
38%
39,792,268
11,985,869
30%
24
Loughborough University
58
22
38%
52,364,689
20,566,754
39%
25
University of Leeds
83
31
37%
50,109,395
18,594,362
37%
26
University of Edinburgh
75
28
37%
57,419,900
30,524,784
53%
27
University of York
41
15
37%
26,186,804
9,138,981
35%
28
University of Oxford
121
43
36%
81,868,450
21,079,033
26%
29
Brunel University
39
14
36%
22,987,936
11,949,185
52%
30
University of Kent
14
5
36%
3,890,258
664,053
17%
31
University of Nottingham
86
30
35%
72,815,137
27,046,795
37%
32
University of Glasgow
48
17
35%
47,219,137
23,948,483
51%
33
University of Sheffield
113
38
34%
83,653,607
24,390,110
29%
34
University of Southampton
90
31
34%
41,243,114
16,451,281
40%
35
Queen's University of Belfast
35
12
34%
26,934,491
10,336,054
38%
36
Glyndwr University
6
2
33%
2,535,139
569,320
22%
37
London School of Economics & Pol Sci
3
1
33%
266,294
93,836
35%
38
University of the West of Scotland
3
1
33%
301,679
99,872
33%
39
Imperial College London
215
69
32%
182,858,481
59,547,192
33%
40
Open University
19
6
32%
7,603,128
1,300,427
17%
41
University of Bath
94
29
31%
60,789,852
25,513,404
42%
42
University of Strathclyde
74
23
31%
51,365,657
16,929,523
33%
43
University of Birmingham
67
21
31%
44,939,520
13,229,351
29%
44
King's College London
48
15
31%
16,790,091
2,988,748
18%
45
University of Exeter
49
15
31%
23,875,970
7,044,042
30%
46
The University of Manchester
125
38
30%
82,969,932
27,168,293
33%
47
University of St Andrews
33
10
30%
18,598,220
6,660,201
36%
48
Northumbria University
10
3
30%
3,501,519
1,458,259
42%
49
University of Hull
10
3
30%
4,449,550
310,363
7%
50
University of Salford
10
3
30%
4,962,922
1,176,128
24%
51
Heriot-Watt University
49
14
29%
35,628,165
11,656,495
33%
52
University of East Anglia
17
5
29%
5,324,459
892,486
17%
53
University of Leicester
17
5
29%
6,286,485
1,281,111
20%
54
University of Reading
17
5
29%
6,598,284
1,755,610
27%
55
City University
7
2
29%
2,491,376
207,330
8%
56
Nottingham Trent University
7
2
29%
1,336,450
156,119
12%
57
University of Brighton
7
2
29%
1,641,575
438,923
27%
58
University of Central Lancashire
7
2
29%
3,232,697
164,132
5%
59
University of Huddersfield
7
2
29%
3,357,981
653,831
19%
60
University of Sussex
13
3
23%
10,756,276
3,951,483
37%
61
Cranfield University
46
10
22%
25,877,431
4,511,361
17%
62
Swansea University
27
6
22%
22,023,324
4,716,297
21%
63
Queen Mary, University of London
43
9
21%
17,949,342
3,436,930
19%
64
University of Stirling
5
1
20%
2,598,610
1,228,231
47%
65
Coventry University
6
1
17%
2,259,288
477,591
21%
66
Edinburgh Napier University
6
1
17%
1,076,504
238,068
22%
67
Oxford Brookes University
6
1
17%
2,563,759
1,184,087
46%
68
University of Hertfordshire
6
1
17%
2,311,986
375,542
16%
69
University of Surrey
61
9
15%
29,291,237
3,613,891
12%
70
University of Portsmouth
7
1
14%
1,188,675
752,949
63%
71
Keele University
8
1
13%
1,143,491
15,762
1%
72
University of the West of England
12
1
8%
7,698,034
49,730
1%
73
Birkbeck College
2
0
0%
1,649,467
0
0%
74
Birmingham City University
3
0
0%
444,318
0
0%
75
Bournemouth University
3
0
0%
658,830
0
0%
76
Cardiff Metropolitan University
1
0
0%
280,056
0
0%
77
Glasgow Caledonian University
4
0
0%
1,402,026
0
0%
78
Kingston University
4
0
0%
633,880
0
0%
79
Leeds Metropolitan University
1
0
0%
220,878
0
0%
80
Liverpool John Moores University
4
0
0%
1,092,417
0
0%
81
London Metropolitan University
2
0
0%
915,227
0
0%
82
London South Bank University
2
0
0%
498,243
0
0%
83
Middlesex University
5
0
0%
8,415,091
0
0%
84
Royal College of Art
1
0
0%
1,126,393
0
0%
85
Sheffield Hallam University
4
0
0%
1,792,553
0
0%
86
Southampton Solent University
1
0
0%
272,421
0
0%
87
Swansea Metropolitan University
1
0
0%
75,586
0
0%
88
The Robert Gordon University
2
0
0%
1,910,764
0
0%
89
University of Abertay Dundee
2
0
0%
430,496
0
0%
90
University of Bedfordshire
2
0
0%
311,628
0
0%
91
University of Bolton
2
0
0%
1,220,192
0
0%
92
University of Bradford
9
0
0%
1,916,361
0
0%
93
University of Derby
2
0
0%
189,508
0
0%
94
University of East London
2
0
0%
196,302
0
0%
95
University of Essex
6
0
0%
1,878,555
0
0%
96
University of Glamorgan
7
0
0%
4,342,748
0
0%
97
University of Lincoln
4
0
0%
709,562
0
0%
98
University of Northampton
4
0
0%
504,265
0
0%
99
University of Teesside
1
0
0%
268,146
0
0%
100
University of Westminster
1
0
0%
4,067,836
0
0%