The PhD and MRes programmes are closely linked to our growing and dynamic research culture. You'll benefit from engaging with highly qualified academic staff, working alongside a portfolio of dynamic and popular masters programmes.
Academic supervision
A member of staff, expert in the chosen field, is directly responsible for guiding and supporting your research programme. As a research student you'll become part of our thriving academic community. Explore the staff, facilities and more in the Division of Social Sciences.
Research areas
- Parliaments and legislatures
- Political institutions
- Engagement and participation
- Representation
- Theories of democracy
- Political narratives and storytelling
- Elections and voting
- Civil society
- The voluntary sector
- Charities
- NGOs
- Gender
- Sexuality
- Race
- Race, Disproportionality and Social Justice
- Globalisation
- International relations
- Migration
- Human rights
- Genocide
- Crimes against humanity
- Social movements
- Women's movements
- Elites and networks
- Agency
- Development studies
- Youth crime and desistance
- Youth Safety
- Young people and justice
- Youth work/youth policy
- Prostitution
- Human trafficking
- Violence against women and girls
- Policing
- Education for sustainability
- Politics of sustainability
- Politics and climate change
- Social science research methods
- Twentieth century Britain
- Welfare and social policy
- Social history
- Political violence and state harms
- State violence, harm and international justice
- Criminalisation of dissent
- Prison and prison experiences
- Penal theories and policies
- Experiences of the criminal justice system, imprisonment, violence and trauma
- Peacebuilding
- Transitional justice
- Aesthetics
- The Holocaust
- Empire and contemporary imperialism
- Fascism/contemporary right wing extremism/populism
- China and the world system
- Contemporary China
Research culture
Research students who study at LSBU become a vital part of our dynamic research culture and are one of the essential elements which make LSBU an exciting intellectual environment.
All research students are enrolled in the LSBU’s postgraduate Key Skills programme. In addition, you can undertake research methods training from relevant MA and MSc courses, as well as taking part in specialist events and activities, which ensure an inclusive and thriving research culture.
MRes programme
An MRes is distinct from a taught Masters in that your final output will be an extended dissertation (30,000 words) rather than module-based coursework and exams.
PhD programme
A PhD, by definition, is an original contribution to knowledge. A research degree is different from a taught course. Research students are expected to self-direct their learning with support from a supervisory team.
To find out more about what to include in your proposal download our Law and Social Sciences PhD Proposal Guidelines (PDF File 97 KB) presentation.
Research Excellence Framework (REF)
In the 2014 REF 75% of our research into Social Work and Social Policy was awarded the quality rating of 3* out of 4* for 'environment' - quality that is defined as conducive to producing research of internationally excellent quality, in terms of its vitality and sustainability. We receive a wide range of external funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Department for International Development (DfID), the British Academy, charities, government departments and local authorities.