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School of Social Sciences

Research at the School of Social Sciences

Our research is world-leading, achieving excellent research impact, quality and environment scores for Education and Sociology in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF), scoring 3rd and 10th in the UK respectively.

We are committed to theoretically informed research with a clear policy focus. Our research is interdisciplinary, innovative and has impact.

Our work is characterised by a combination of sociological theory and methods with application to real-world issues. As a multi-discipline School, we value an interdisciplinary approach and embrace a range of methods and approaches to issues.

We have a large postgraduate community in the School, with students taking a key role in shaping our research environment. Students undertake research-capacity development and engage in regular seminars, workshops, public engagement activities as well as the student-organised Postgraduate Café, a monthly forum for research-focused discussion.

International reputation

Our staff includes Fellows of the British Academy and the Learned Society of Wales, Academicians of the Academy of Social Sciences, several winners of the Learned Society of Wales Dillwyn Medal for outstanding early career research and the winner of the 2015 BRA/BBC Ethnography prize.

Grants and collaborations

Our collaborations range from partnerships with major universities and international agencies around the world, to working with local policy makers and practitioners.

Since 2014, we have secured research grants totalling in excess of £63 million. We have one of the highest per capita external grant captures of any Social Science department in the country.