The quality of research carried out by university departments in the UK is there for all to see. Research is assessed and graded. Anne Byrne reports

Last month, the results of the latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) were published. Unsurprisingly, Cambridge, Oxford and the London School of Economics and Political Science topped the overall league tables. The RAE 2001 was carried out by funding councils, and graded university departments from 1 to 5*.

Naturally, there are quibbles over flaws in the exercise and there has been some squabbling over the results, however, it does represent a reasonable attempt at transparency.

Following criticism of the 1996 exercise, the 68 subject panels appointed more than 300 overseas academics to advise on departments being considered for grades 5 and 5*. As well as producing league tables that will be closely scrutinised (this is a five-yearly exercise) the RAE provides the basis on which annual funding of around €1.27 billion is allocated. In addition, the higher the grade, the more likely a department is to attract external funding.

Of the 172 universities involved in the exercise, 61 had one or more departments awarded the top grade, 5*, which is awarded only to world-class departments that are setting the global agenda, while 96 had at least one department rated 5. At the top of the table, Cambridge had 30 departments graded 5*, and 18 graded at 5, while Oxford had 25 graded 5* and 17 graded 5.

In the North, the University of Ulster did extremely well, scoring two 5* ratings, in biomedical sciences and Celtic studies. It is one of only four universities in the UK to score a 5* in biomedical sciences. Ratings of 5 were secured in the built environment, art and design, and law. UU's ratings represent a considerable improvement on the previous RAE in 1996.

In Queen's University Belfast, results were also significantly improved, with 15 units awarded a grade 5, and the department of mechanical, aeronautical and manufacturing engineering, getting a 5* rating.

In overall league tables, prepared by the Guardian newspaper, Queen's University Belfast was ranked 40, with UU at 61. In the London Times league table, QUB was placed at 38, with UU at 59.

The Armagh Observatory, the only non-university institution in Northern Ireland to be included in the RAE, scored a 4 in physics, similar to its 1996 rating.