Organisation profile

Our researchers are internationally recognised leaders in their fields producing world-class research across the social sciences and law. The faculty’s innovative and collaborative research addresses the most pressing social concerns of our globalised society, contributing to significant policy change in many areas.

Recognised globally for our research excellence across the social sciences and law, our reputation is founded on strengths in many areas including poverty and social exclusion, markets and public organisation, human rights, global insecurity, life-styles and wellbeing, educational quality, and quantitative social science methods.

Our academics work in a wide range of research centres and groupings across economics, education, human geography, law, policy studies, sociology, politics and international studies and are committed to conducting world-leading research that matters to society.

Outstanding results in the UK's Research Assessment Exercise 2008 confirmed that 87% of the faculty’s research was of international quality. World-leading and internationally excellent research made up over half of the submission with exceptional performances for Geography (1st), Sports-related Studies (3rd), Accounting and Finance (4th), Education (5th), Economics (6th), and Social Work and Social Policy (14th).

Funders

The faculty attracts a wide range of funding from research councils, charities and government departments around the world. Supported by funders such as UK and European Research Councils, the Leverhulme Trust and the Department for International Development, our researchers are working at the heart of issues that surround social concerns advancing social innovation and delivering evidence for policymakers.

Publications

Our high-quality research outputs are published in internationally-ranked journals and prestigious academic presses across social sciences and law. The faculty also hosts and edits a number of internationally recognised social science journals, including Policy and Politics, Ethnicities, Antipode: a journal of radical geography, Journal of Common Market Studies, British Accounting Review and Contemporary Political Theory.