School of Social Sciences and Humanities

We are a diverse and inclusive School delivering excellence in learning and teaching, research, and enterprise across the Social Sciences and Humanities. Inter-disciplinarity and international encounters are fostered across five departments: Communication and Media; Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy; English; Geography and Environment; and International Relations, Politics and History.

3 internationally renowned research centres

CRCC, CRSP and STEER

1st in the UK for Communication and Media Studies

Complete University Guide 2025

1st in the UK for Criminology

The Times University Guide 2025

87% of our research recognised as ‘world leading' or 'internationally excellent'

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Top 5 in the UK for Geography

The Guardian University Guide 2025

4th in the UK for International Relations

The Guardian University Guide 2025

Communication and Media

Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy

English

Geography and Environment

International Relations, Politics and History

The Language Centre

Intelligent Questions

Our academic members of staff engage in cutting-edge research, addressing vital questions at the interface of societies and the environment.

Is migration a threat to security?
What can we still learn from the Victorians?
How dangerous is state surveillance?
More Intelligent Questions

Research

We use our knowledge, skills, curiosity and creativity to deliver novel, rigorous, transformative research that makes a difference in the world, and enriches the social, economic, cultural and environmental well-being of people and places.

Our research

Children's politicisation in diaspora?: a comparative exploration

In a time of debate around young people's politics and political participation, it is important to understand what young people themselves feel about having a voice.

Children's politicisation in diaspora

The power of football in prisoner rehabilitation

The research aims to investigate the impact of football and sports coaching on the early desistance narratives of prisoners in England and Wales.

The power of football in prisoner rehabilitation

Young people and volunteering in Uganda

This international project is focused on exploring the kinds of voluntary labour practiced by young refugees in Uganda, as well as investigating how these impact on their skills, employability and the inequalities they experience.

Young people and volunteering in Uganda

News

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Prof Elizabeth Peel visits partner university in China

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Hosts Delegation from Wuhan University

SSH achieves Athena SWAN bronze award renewal

Events

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International Study Exchange Social

Study Exchange Talk - English, Communication & Media, Criminology, Sociology & Social Policy

Study Exchange Talk - International Relations, Politics, History and Geography

Rural Colombia after the 2016 peace agreement: screening of the film Bajo Fuego/Under Siege
Student watching online lecture

School team

The School is run by a team of academic members of staff in leadership roles, alongside School admin and support staff, and professional services colleagues and University business partners from across the institution.

Our team
People walking outside Hazlerigg and Rutland buildings at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ us

Hear from our Dean and learn more about our School.

Alumni

Learn more about ways that alumni can engage with º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ and help our students and future graduates to fulfil their full potential.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Learn more about how we promote equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our work.