The Departments of Music and Drama at Royal Holloway share a commitment to research that challenges inequalities, reimagines historical narratives, and develops innovative ways to participate in the arts.
We have been positioned in the upper quartile of Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 results for overall 4-star research, research impact and research outputs, with 83.3% of research judged to be 4-star for Impact. We are immensely proud that our work has been recognised through these results, which reflects not only the quality of our research but also our passion for championing Music and Drama as active, engaged arenas that can have a real impact in our society and our world.
Dr Emma Cox, Head of Department, said: 'These are extraordinary results for the Department of Drama, Theatre and Dance, along with our colleagues in the Department of Music with whom we jointly submitted. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) judged 73% of our research outputs – books, articles, chapters, and community-based research with arts and cultural organisations – to be of a 4-star, world-leading, standard, and 95% of our research outputs as either 4 or 3-star (internationally excellent).
I'm also thrilled that along with our colleagues in the Department of Music, we have been ranked 2nd in the country for Grade Point Average in overall research in the Times Higher Education rankings of the REF 2021.
We're immensely proud of our high impact research, with its strong commitment to social justice. Our researchers work locally and internationally, partnering with theatres, museums, schools and care facilities, shaping new approaches to the performing arts and enhancing the lives of those who may not otherwise access our artform. These outstanding REF results confirm our position as a leading UK Drama department, recognised for the highest quality of innovative, socially engaged research.
Our REF success is a collective one, reflecting the supportive, dynamic and creative community within the Department of Drama, Theatre and Dance: that includes academic colleagues, our technical team and our administrative staff. We're proud to have partnered with our wonderful colleagues in Music for this REF submission and look forward to continuing our creative collaboration with them in our teaching and research activities.'
