Oxford social science research creates impact in many fields beyond academia and our social scientists make a significant difference in people’s lives locally and across the globe. We regularly exchange expertise, knowledge and insights with a wide range of organisations, groups and people, helping to improve society and the economy on many fronts and contributing to key debates among the wider population.
Our impact on policymaking is particularly extensive, both within the UK and beyond. Our researchers regularly advise international governments and multi-lateral agencies, UK government departments and local government authorities, as well as working with intermediary non-governmental organisations that lobby and encourage policy change.
Every day, all over the world, research from the Social Sciences Division is making a difference to communities, to policymakers, and to industry, helping them to tackle some of the society's biggest challenges. You can explore the selection of impact stories below offer to discover some of the different ways in which our research is making difference in the world.
Providing flexible funding options to support engagement with all sectors, activities at every stage of development, and researchers at any point in their career.
Leading academic researchers, across a range of subjects, talk about why their research matters to society and what they’ve learned through taking their research into the community.
Research impact support and advice
Our approach to embedding and enhancing research impact across the Social Sciences Division has been highly successful in the last ten years, with the volume of research awards continuing to rise and the development of a large number of research centres and groupings. Researchers at Oxford receive significant support and guidance in the development of their research, including research and impact funding, research project design and management, and research outputs from academic and administrative colleagues across the University, division and departments.
If you are a researcher at Oxford, please visit our Support for Researchers page to find out more.
If you are interested to learn more about social sciences research impact and opportunities to engage with Oxford social scientists - whether in relation to public policy, industry collaboration, or public and community engagement - please get in touch below:
