Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

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In the faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, our departments deliver courses and conduct��research in��a wide variety of humanities and social sciences subjects -��from politics and international development, to criminology, education, literature and languages. We're home to more than 200 staff and 6,000 students from the��UK, EU, and overseas.

Our teaching is supported by the latest technology, with learning resources created in partnership between academics and experienced online course developers.��All of our degrees aim to offer a global perspective on their subjects, so our students graduate with limitless horizons.

Our research explores themes across a host of subjects within the faculty, which informs the teaching and supervision of our students. Many of our researchers are called on to work with governments, aid organisations and public services around the world, to help bring about social change. We also support academic staff to develop partnerships and consultancy activities with public and private enterprise.

We engage with the world beyond our University, ensuring that our students are fully prepared for the careers they wish to pursue. This might mean the option of overseas work or study placements, joint degrees or even virtual study abroad, where students take part in shared learning with those in other countries.��

We opened the Placement and Internship Centre in 2013, and most of our courses offer placement years. Our students��have the opportunity to gain real workplace experience, whether by choosing a paid placement year in industry, or by opting for shorter work placements or voluntary opportunities. We help them understand what they can gain from the experience, identify the best fit, find a suitable placement and make a success of it.��

The faculty is located in four different buildings around the compact city centre campus: Park Building, Milldam, St George’s Building and Ravelin House.

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Explore the departments in this faculty

School of Area Studies, Sociology, History, Politics and Literature

Explore the School of Area Studies, Sociology, History, Politics and Literature, and find out more about the teaching and research activities happening now within the school.

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School of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Read more about the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, and explore the teaching and research activities that take place within it.

Female forensics worker checking fingerprint on computer screen

School of Education, Languages and Linguistics

Explore the School of Education, Languages and Linguistics, and learn more about the teaching and research activities that take place within the school.

Teaching

Whatever degree our students choose, they learn from lecturers whose diverse research is united by fundamental questions - how should we live? How can we live better? And how can we change things so everyone, around the world, can live life to the full?

Our class sizes create a supportive environment for learning, so diverse voices are heard and each course becomes a community. Every course starts with an induction that puts making friends at its heart. Our students can build peer groups who support them throughout their degree journeys – and beyond.��

We include projects and simulated experiences during our courses that enable our students to graduate ready for rewarding work. The opportunities are as diverse as our courses. For example, students can practise forensic analysis in a simulated crime scene, curate a new literary prize or submit a winning pitch, get their voices heard at the Model United Nations, or develop professional skills in our Conference Interpreter Training Suite.

Guest lecturers and visiting speakers from industry also give our students fresh perspectives on their career options, as well as the chance to start building a network of professional contacts who could help them achieve their future ambitions.

Our students discover:

how to be open to new ideas
how to step outside their comfort zone
how to gain any new skills they need, fast
how to grow, personally and professionally
how to think: globally, critically, differently

They graduate with the tools they need to:

assess their options
identify fresh opportunities
connect with employers
always find their place

Our teaching areas

Themes across our courses include areas of social justice and challenges facing humanity. Through studying with us, our students can become the change they want to see in society.

Childhood, youth studies and education courses

Want a rewarding career shaping how children and young people learn and develop? Choose one of our childhood, youth studies and education courses.

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Criminology and forensic studies courses

Find out about studying a Criminology degree at one of the largest criminology departments in the country.

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English and creative writing courses

Writing has the power to transport readers and listeners to an entirely different time and place. Tailor your studies to suit your goals, and graduate with the knowledge and skills find your dream career.

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History, politics and international relations courses

Get the skills, knowledge and opportunities to develop a deep understanding of human behaviour, culture and society, and how they interact.

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Languages courses

Develop an in-demand skill set, and get a deeper insight into the culture, history and politics of another country, with a Languages degree.

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Or read about postgraduate research opportunities within the faculty:

Research

Our research areas

Explore the research work we're doing within the faculty – across areas including English Literature, linguistics, history, criminology, education, area studies and sociology.

Area studies

We're exploring international relations, history, politics, economies, cultures, languages and geography across specific regions.

Criminology

We're researching how to prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute crime to keep up with the changing nature of criminal behaviour.��

Forensic at crime scene handling keys into evidence bag

Education

We're researching what education looks like for different groups of people around the globe, while pushing for social justice and the human rights agenda worldwide.

English literature

We're researching how literature provides insight and understanding into the lives of other individuals, communities and cultures.

History

We're understanding our society through the study of experiences, culture, values and activities of people throughout history.��

Young girls on a march in Eastern Europe

Languages and applied linguistics

We're looking beyond words to explore how they're used in certain contexts, and the relationship words can have with social constructs such as class or power. Explore our languages and applied linguistics research.

Translators working in translation suite

Politics and international relations

We're exploring pressing issues in politics and international relations and working with organisations, governments and individuals to find solutions.

Sociology

We're studying the patterns of relationships, social interaction, cultures and communities, and how people live their lives. Explore our sociology research.

Women's and gender studies

We're exploring women’s issues and gender issues in social and cultural contexts through time, and how gender is represented in the media. Explore our women's and gender studies research.