Bristol University is a research leader. The Faculty of Social Sciences and Law is a thriving part of this and has an excellent record in research. Our researchers are recognised for their theoretical and applied research. Many of our researchers are recognised leaders in their discipline and/or policy area. Our applied researchers have an established track record in research grants for research councils, government organisations and charities. Many of our researchers have developed pioneering research work and policies that have national and often international significance. Researchers in the Faculty have strong international research networks.
The Faculty performed very strongly in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise. Those departments who did exceptionally well include Geography (the School of Geographical Sciences is a joint member of both FSSL and the Faculty of Science) which was equal first with Cambridge on the Times Higher ranking, Sports-related Studies (3rd in the Times Higher), Accounting and Finance (4th in the Times Higher), Education (5th in the Times Higher), Economics (6th in the Times Higher) and Social Work and Social Policy (14th in the Times Higher). 56% of all research submitted by the Faculty was assessed as being of 4* (world-leading) or 3*, ‘internationally excellent’ quality and 87.5% was considered to be of international standard. 90% of eligible Faculty staff were submitted for the Exercise. The Faculty’s Director of Research, Professor Rosemary Deem, said ‘ This is an outstanding outcome for the Faculty and a tribute to all the hard work undertaken by our academics, department research directors and research administrators’.
In the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), all established units of assessment achieved 5* or 5. Since then the Faculty has continued to focus on research excellence and to invest in research staff and dynamic research potential.The need to support researchers and provide a structured approach to ethical considerations lies at the heart of the Faculty’s policy on research ethics.
The Faculty has recently established a new Bristol Institute which currently includes three important research centres:
Other research centres and University Research Themes within the faculty
Contact:
Faculty Research Support Officer Wing-Fai Leung
Email: W.F.Leung@bristol.ac.uk