Courage, creativity and collaboration – these are the foundations of our research. And we are just getting started. Our brave approach to research is opening the door to bright new ideas and endless possibilities. For colleagues and students, we’re disrupting the research landscape to enable bright minds to rise up and make a difference. For businesses we’re redefining what it means to engage with our community. For our community, we’re creating new opportunities to build and grow.
Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, 86% of NTU’s research impact was assessed to be either world-leading or internationally excellent. The overall quality of each Unit of Assessment NTU submitted to REF in 2021 also saw an improvement from the previous REF in 2014.
Explore our research
Strategic Research Themes
Our research experts are working with partners and funders across three key strategic research themes that aim to respond to a range of challenges in business, industry and wider society.
Research Centres
Spanning all academic Schools, our specialist Research Centres bring together experts to undertake life-changing research that is helping to shape our future.
Search our Research
Explore a full list of our Research Centres, Groups, Projects and Impact Case Studies to discover our ground-breaking and globally impactful research.
Research achievements and awards
Discover the exciting research projects and expert community that have led Nottingham Trent University to twice receive the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Research Excellence
Re:search Re:imagined
By daring to think differently, we’re disrupting the research landscape and finding the answers to the questions that really matter. Discover some of our ground-breaking research.
Re:searchers Re:vealed
Here at NTU, our researchers come from a variety of backgrounds, and they all have a powerful story to tell. In this series, we share their stories. From the mothers, the dancers and the engineers, to the refugees, the survivors and the volunteers.
This is their re:search, re:vealed.
Discover our research community
Re:frame Q&A
Join NTU's brightest researchers as they challenge commonly held beliefs and tackle the big questions shaping society. Each Q&A reveals how research is reframing our understanding of the world around us.
Get closer to the experts who challenge the status quo and discover answers to the questions that matter most.
Latest news and stories
Thu 24 Sep 2026
England is rainy again. So why is it still in drought?
England has seen welcome rainfall after a prolonged dry spell – so why are drought conditions still a concern? Dr Lucy Clarke, Associate Professor of Environmental Resilience at Nottingham Trent University, explains why green grass and rising river levels do not necessarily mean the drought is over, and why depleted groundwater and other water stores can take months to recover.
The rise of the AI superstar: How AI is changing decision-making at work
Thu 24 Sep 2026
Why celebrity-owned fashion can become so valuable
Wed 23 Sep 2026
Why should we care if there aren’t any squished insects on our windscreens?
Tue 22 Sep 2026
Childhood dementia explained: symptoms, diagnosis and hope for new treatments
Tue 22 Sep 2026