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.
People, Culture and Environment
REF 2029 People, Culture and Environment will deliver an expanded definition of research excellence, recognising the wide range of research, roles, and people that are essential to the vitality of our vibrant research system.
Research governance, openness and integrity
At Nottingham Trent University we’ve developed an environment which provides excellent support to researchers, enables and promotes openness, and ensures our research meets the highest ethical standards.
Research Governance
Our Research Office oversees the development of research policies and strategies and ensures that our research meets the highest ethical standards.
Research Integrity
As a high-performing research institution, NTU upholds the highest standards of research integrity within the framework of our policies and procedures.
Open Research
Open Research improves how research is performed by making it accessible to everyone. NTU is committed to facilitating and maintaining a culture of Open Research through our practices.
Research Excellence Framework (REF)
At NTU, our research has deep connections with the real challenges faced by communities in our city, region, country and beyond. Our research has an impact that changes lives and the world we all share.
REF is the UK’s system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. As well as informing funding allocations, the REF provides accountability for public investment in research and provides important reputational benchmarks for research performance in the UK.
A condition of participation in REF 2029 is the production of a Code of Practice to establish minimum standards and set out how key decisions on submissions will be made. Nottingham Trent University’s REF 2029 Code of Practice has now passed through all relevant internal and external approval processes, and is being shared to set out the University’s approach to key areas of activity, including:
- Identifying Staff Contracts with Significant Responsibility for Research (SRR)
- Determining Research Independence
- Allocating Contracts to Units of Assessment (UoAs)
- Selecting outputs
Should there be any questions on the Code, these can be directed to the Secretary to the University’s REF Planning Group, Anton Muszanskyj.
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.
More research and impact
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.
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.
Search our research
Discover our Research Centres, Groups, Projects and Impact Case Studies and find out the real-world impact our research is having in areas ranging from cancer treatment to food security.