Social Policy (Research)

The School for Policy Studies is a world-renowned centre for the theory, practice and implementation of social and public policy research. Our focus is on the determinants of social problems and the responses to them by governments, policy makers and practitioners.

We combine innovative conceptual thinking with diverse methodologies to address social problems from the local to the global in relation to poverty, health, care, harm, governance, inequalities, and wellbeing. We embrace a distinctive multidisciplinary approach drawing on expertise in social and public policy, social work, childhood studies, disability studies, criminology, social gerontology, and epidemiology and public health.

The school is an exciting environment for graduate studies and we welcome graduate students from the UK and around the world to join our diverse and highly-rated research team. We particularly welcome applications on topics with direct relevance to national and international policy concerns.

Possible start dates are September 2026 and January 2027. Please see the programme page on our website for more information.