Cardiff University has leapt to 5th in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) based on the quality of our research, a meteoric rise that confirms our place as a world-leading university.We have risen 17 places on the quality measure, making us the fastest rising amongst the leading research universities of the Russell Group, climbing from 22nd in 2008.For the first time the funding councils have sought to measure the impact of our research, and again the University has performed outstandingly on this indicator, ranked 2nd in the UK.An impressive 87% of our research was assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent. This extraordinary achievement marks us out as a world leader and puts Cardiff on the map globally and nationally. We are an extremely ambitious and innovative University and we are not afraid to set challenging goals. Achieving this outstanding result is a testimony to the excellence and hard work of all our staff. It is part of a very clear strategic vision for the University, one that will see our reputation rise globally to the benefit of Cardiff, Wales and the UK.

HighlightsSome of the highlights of our performance include:Civil and Construction Engineering - ranked 1st in the UK on quality, 97% of the research submitted was classed as being of a world-leading or internationally excellent quality. Its world-leading research received a 100% measure in terms of impact.types of commercial ac unitsPsychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience - ranked 2nd in the UK on quality, 92% of the research submitted was classed as being of a world-leading or internationally excellent quality. through the wall ac unitmunication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management - ranked 2nd in the UK on quality, 89% of the research submitted was classed as being of a world-leading or internationally excellent quality. window ac units size

Its research received a 100% measure in terms of impact.Sociology - ranked 3rd in the UK, 80% of the research submitted was deemed 'outstanding' for its impact in terms of its reach and significance.Education - ranked joint 5th in the UK, 100% of the research environment was rated as conducive to producing research of world-leading quality in terms of its vitality and sustainability.Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy - ranked joint 4th in the UK on quality, 94% of the research submitted was classed as being of a world-leading or internationally excellent quality. Its world-leading research received a 90% measure in terms of impact.Modern Languages and Linguistics - ranked 1st in the UK on impact, 84% of the research submitted was classed as being of a world-leading or internationally excellent quality. Imperial has the greatest concentration of high impact research of any major UK university, according to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014. In the College’s best ever performance in a research assessment exercise, Imperial was judged to have improved in every Unit of Assessment.Highlights of the REF 2014 include:Professor James Stirling CBE FRS, Provost of Imperial College London, said: “These REF results confirm Imperial’s status as one of the world’s great research universities.

It is gratifying to see the outstanding work of so many colleagues acknowledged in this way.London is home to some of the best and most exciting research institutions in the world– Boris JohnsonMayor of London“I am especially proud to see that Imperial has improved in each of its Units of Assessment since the 2008 exercise – demonstrating excellence in science, engineering, medicine and business right across the College.“It is a pleasure to work at a university that has such a profound impact on our society and economy – and for that to be recognised by the REF. From metamaterials to medical engineering, Imperial people are making the world a better place.“This has been a true team effort. Our exceptional research environment is enriched by our outstanding early career researchers, including PhD students and postdocs, and by the vital contributions of our dedicated support staff. Imperial’s appetite for collaboration across disciplines and beyond academia has also contributed to today’s success.“

These results underline the importance of investing scarce research resources where they will have the most impact: in universities with the academic expertise and critical mass to compete on a global stage. Quality Research (QR) funding has played a crucial role in our success, not least because we can direct it towards the development of emergent research areas."Government support has enabled UK universities like Imperial to compete with the best in the world. To keep this position and to harness the impact of universities in building a dynamic and innovative economy, targeted and sustainable investment is essential."The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “These results prove that London is home to some of the best and most exciting research institutions in the world - creative powerhouses that are tackling major global challenges at home and abroad. London already has a vibrant life sciences cluster and through my MedCity initiative we want to use our incredible academic prowess to spur the discovery of new treatments and propel the sector so it becomes a key contributor to the capital’s growth and health.”

Dr Wendy Piatt, Director General of the Russell Group of leading universities, said: “Whichever way you cut the data, Russell Group universities produce the vast majority of the UK’s world-leading research. Despite making up just 15% of higher education institutions in the UK, the 24 Russell Group universities produce 68% of the country’s world-leading research, as well as 68% of the research with outstanding impact, across the whole range of disciplines.” All-in-one at an excellent price The RT1900ac isn't just a great router -- it's also viable NAS server when hosting a storage device. This all-in-one router is an excellent buy for those who wants to enter the world of network storage. The Lexus of wireless routers The RT-AC88U has everything you'd need from a router for a robust and non-compromising home network. It's well worth its rather hefty price-tag. Linksys WRT1900ACS Dual-Band Gigabit Wi-Fi Router A great router to share fast Internet If you're looking for a router to share your fast broadband connection wirelessly to every corner of your home, the WRT1900ACS fit that bill.

Asus AC2400 RT-AC87U Dual-band Wireless Gigabit Router A big leap in home Wi-Fi performance The quad-stream Asus AC2400 RT-AC87U has the top Wi-Fi specs and a rich feature set. It's the router for those wanting to get the most out of their home network. Asus RT-AC68U Dual-band Wireless-AC1900 Gigabit Router A solid network and storage powerhouse All things considered, the R7000 is the best router from Netgear to date. The router has long range, fast Wi-Fi speed and can also double as a viable network storage solution when coupled with an external hard drive. Asus RT-AC3200 Tri-Band Wireless Gigabit Router Feature-rich but still too expensive With three separate bands, the Asus RT-AC3200 is suitable only for homes with lots of active Wi-Fi clients, for others it would be overkill and hence to expensive. Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station Speedy and elegant home Wi-Fi router What it lacks in functions and features, the new AirPort Extreme more than makes up for that in its great new look and fast performance.