Research innovation

Our research prowess make us a respected voice in national and international debate, exerting influence on critical global issues.

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What We Do

The School of Global Affairs research activities are dynamic and varied, ranging from activism, policymaking, historic warfare, philosophy of the body, medical humanities to diplomacy. Our disciplines demonstrate depth of their subjects while together, through multi- and inter-disciplinary projects, the School highlights our synergies around such topics as peace, security, migration, digital humanities, gender, race, the public good, authoritarianism, and decolonisation.

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Research in our disciplines

Research Excellence Framework (REF)

In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF2021), our work contributed to an assessment of 96% World Leading or Internationally Excellent for English Language and Literature. We also contributed to the outstanding results of Art and Design, Modern Languages and Linguistics, Sociology, and Theology and Religious Studies.

  • Politics, Philosophy and Religion were ranked 2nd in the UK in relation to research power, 8th for research environment and 88% of research rated as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’, in Unit of assessment 31: Theology and Religious Studies.
  • Two thirds of History research impact was classed as ‘outstanding’, ranking it 12th in the UK for outstanding impact.
  • Languages and Global cultures contributed to several different submissions, including Art and Design, and English Language and Literature, highlighting the department’s strong interdisciplinary collaborative approach.

Affiliated research centres and networks

Ethics, Values and Policy Initiative

The Ethics, Values and Policy Initiative (EVPI) brings together academic experts and policy actors to explore developing an ethics and values-based framework for evidence-based policy making.

Ethics Values and Policy Initiative

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