The School of Sociology and Social Policy is a large interdisciplinary department with over 30 research active staff – including 14 full professors - working at the cutting edges in Social and Public Policy, Social Work, Sociology, Social Psychology, and Trauma Studies.
Our interdisciplinary scope facilitates pioneering research agendas and flourishing partnerships within the School, across the University, and with a growing body of international collaborators. We undertake theoretically informed applied research into contemporary social issues and social change, government and organisational policies, and professional and clinical practices.
In short, we aim to make a difference.
In the last six years, our staff have published over 1000 books, reports, journal articles, and book chapters, and given talks across the globe. To see the list of our recent activity look at our recent publications page.
In the same time, we have attracted over 5.5 million pounds of external research funding from UK research councils, charities, and other European and overseas governments and organisations to research a range of themes including:
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health
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well-being
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social exclusion
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analysis of policies and professionals
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children and families
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globalisation, citizenship and identity
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medical sociology
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health policy
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the care of vulnerable children
Members of our staff have given presentations to the Cabinet Office, World Bank, and the European Parliament. Their research is often a focus for comment in the media - you may have seen their names in magazines and newspapers – and many have been invited to contribute their expertise to governments, other organisations, and academic bodies nationally and internationally. Staff have designed materials for communicating with users with learning disabilities, children and young people, those with severe mental illness and those with HIV/AIDS; provided evidence in the training, feedback events and practice guidance for practitioners/service users.
In the past six years, almost 50 students have graduated from the School with PhD qualifications. Find out more about postgraduate research.
Activities in the school
The School is a stimulating, ambitious and energetic place to work and study. To facilitate our research we have five research groupings:
We also host two professional centres and a charitable trust dedicated to the protection from abuse of adults and children with learning difficulties:
Our staff currently lead two University-wide initiatives:
Our staff are also involved in the Integrating Global Society Research Priority Group
Professor Stephen Joseph
Director of Research