An institution's RAE2008 outcome is presented as individual quality profiles for each subject area, showing the percentage of research meeting each of the four quality levels. The results were used by HEFCE to determine each institution's level of annual Government research funding. In 2009-10, the University of Bristol was allocated the 8th highest share of research funding in the UK.

Nearly 93% of research at the University was deemed to be of an international standard. Furthermore, our outstanding results positioned the University in 12th place in the UK out of only 17 multi-disciplinary institutions for whom over 60% of their research was awarded the top two ratings, 4* and 3* (defined respectively as 'world-leading' and 'internationally excellent').

Overall quality profiles (percentage of research activity at each quality level)

Unit of Assessment		FTE Category A staff submitted	4*	3*	2*	1*	U/C
1	Cardiovascular Medicine	20.00	10	45	45	0	0
3	Infection and Immunology	28.00	5	45	50	0	0
4	Other Hospital Based Clinical Subjects	21.00	5	55	40	0	0
6	Epidemiology and Public Health	19.10	35	35	25	5	0
7	Health Services Research	20.41	20	60	20	0	0
8	Primary Care and other Community Based Clinical Subjects	10.25	25	45	25	5	0
9	Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology	20.76	5	55	35	5	0
10	Dentistry	19.41	20	40	35	5	0
14A	Biological Sciences	32.50	10	40	45	5	0
14B	Biochemistry	30.50	20	45	30	5	0
15	Pre-clinical and Human Biological Sciences	80.18	15	40	35	10	0
16	Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science	55.38	0	40	45	15	0
17	Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences	47.70	25	50	20	5	0
18	Chemistry	67.00	25	50	25	0	0
19	Physics	46.00	20	35	35	10	0
20	Pure Mathematics	34.53	30	40	25	5	0
21	Applied Mathematics	38.00	25	45	30	0	0
22	Statistics and Operational Research	23.00	25	45	30	0	0
23	Computer Science and Informatics	36.20	30	40	25	5	0
24	Electrical and Electronic Engineering	32.00	10	55	30	5	0
27	Civil Engineering	18.00	25	55	15	5	0
28A	Mechanical Engineering	19.00	20	60	15	5	0
28B	Aerospace Engineering	19.10	25	55	15	5	0
32	Geography and Environmental Studies	36.00	30	40	25	5	0
33	Archaeology	15.42	15	35	35	10	5
34	Economics and Econometrics	19.45	30	55	15	0	0
35	Accounting and Finance	11.00	10	45	35	10	0
36	Business and Management Studies	6.20	0	30	45	20	5
38	Law	43.70	15	40	35	10	0
39	Politics and International Studies	24.00	10	30	35	20	5
40	Social Work and Social Policy and Administration	47.36	20	40	30	10	0
41	Sociology	17.93	10	40	30	20	0
44	Psychology	31.10	10	50	30	10	0
45	Education	42.56	25	35	30	10	0
46	Sports-Related Studies	8.60	20	35	35	10	0
51	Russian, Slavonic and East European Languages	5.33	15	45	30	10	0
52	French	13.00	5	30	45	20	0
53	German, Dutch and Scandinavian Languages	7.00	15	35	35	10	5
54	Italian	6.33	20	35	40	5	0
55	Iberian and Latin American Languages	10.00	10	20	45	20	5
57	English Language and Literature	18.40	20	50	25	5	0
59	Classics, Ancient History, Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies	20.00	20	35	40	5	0
60	Philosophy	16.00	30	35	30	5	0
61	Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies	10.00	15	30	40	15	0
62	History	26.00	15	40	35	10	0
64	History of Art, Architecture and Design	6.00	15	30	45	10	0
65	Drama, Dance and Performing Arts	11.30	45	30	25	0	0
67	Music	8.00	10	75	10	5	0