Our Research and Impact
World-leading research
Oxford is a world-leading centre for research across the disciplines of the social sciences. Characterised by a wide range of methodologies, themes and fields of scholarship, multi-disciplinary research and innovative ideas thrive in an environment underpinned by excellence across the disciplines of the social sciences. Our size and shape mean that we are well placed to respond, and contribute, to many of the challenges and themes emerging from funding bodies and government.
Discover our...
                                
        RESEARCH EXCELLENCE
      
    
                            
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
        RESEARCH EXCELLENCE
                                
        COLLABORATION AND ENGAGEMENT
      
    
                            
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
        COLLABORATION AND ENGAGEMENT
                                
        IMPACT
      
    
                            
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
        IMPACT
Research news highlights
          
        New research shows that UK families lose nearly a fifth of income after job loss
      
            
                    
                
            
                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                    
             
    
        
                                            
    New research shows that UK families lose nearly a fifth of income after job loss
28 October 2025
          
        Ludvig Sinander awarded Leverhulme Prize in Economics
      
            
                    
                
            
                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                    
             
    
        
                                            
    Ludvig Sinander awarded Leverhulme Prize in Economics
23 October 2025
          
        Inclusive employment guide for Local Economies launched at stakeholder workshop in Oxford
      
            
                    
                
            
                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                    
             
    
        
        Inclusive employment guide for Local Economies launched at stakeholder workshop in Oxford
6 October 2025
          
        Professor Steve Strand elected to Academy of Social Sciences Fellowship
      
            
                    
                
            
                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                    
             
    
        
                                            
    Professor Steve Strand elected to Academy of Social Sciences Fellowship
9 September 2025
          
        Outstanding early-career researchers awarded European Research Council funding to launch their ideas
      
            
                    
                
            
                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                    
             
    
        
        Outstanding early-career researchers awarded European Research Council funding to launch their ideas
8 September 2025
          
        New study finds that cash transfers to pregnant women halve infant mortality rate
      
            
                    
                
            
                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                    
             
    
        
                                            
    New study finds that cash transfers to pregnant women halve infant mortality rate
19 August 2025
          
        Expert comment: How can we make the UK more welcoming for newcomers and communities?
      
            
                    
                
            
                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                    
             
    
        
        Expert comment: How can we make the UK more welcoming for newcomers and communities?
7 August 2025
          
        ‘Laying the groundwork for real change’: Graduate students and policymakers collaborate to tackle health inequalities in Oxfordshire
      
            
                    
                
            
                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                    
             
    
        
        ‘Laying the groundwork for real change’: Graduate students and policymakers collaborate to tackle health inequalities in Oxfordshire
6 August 2025
          
        Oxford social scientists find policymakers underestimate public support for climate action
      
            
                    
                
            
                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                    
             
    
        
                                            
    Oxford social scientists find policymakers underestimate public support for climate action
5 August 2025
          
        Oxford social scientists elected to Fellowship of British Academy
      
            
                    
                
            
                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                    
             
    
        
        Oxford social scientists elected to Fellowship of British Academy
21 July 2025
          
        SSD Interdisciplinary Hubs: Ideas in action
      
            
                    
                
            
                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                    
             
    
        
        SSD Interdisciplinary Hubs: Ideas in action
17 June 2025
          
        Social scientists named in the King's Birthday Honours 2025
      
            
                    
                
            
                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                    
             
    
        
        Social scientists named in the King's Birthday Honours 2025
14 June 2025
          
        Social scientists' impact 'among the very best of Oxford' at Vice-Chancellor's Awards 2025
      
            
                    
                
            
                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                    
             
    
        
        Social scientists' impact 'among the very best of Oxford' at Vice-Chancellor's Awards 2025
10 June 2025
          
        For people and planet: New social sciences collaborations awarded funding to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals
      
            
                    
                
            
                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                    
             
    
        
        For people and planet: New social sciences collaborations awarded funding to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals
10 April 2025
          
        Changing the world, together: celebrating social sciences collaborations making a difference
      
            
                    
                
            
                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                    
             
    
        
        Changing the world, together: celebrating social sciences collaborations making a difference
27 March 2025
          
        Business Engagement Seed Fund awardees announced
      
            
                    
                
            
                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                    
             
    
        
        Business Engagement Seed Fund awardees announced
17 March 2025
          
        Social scientists shortlisted for the Vice-Chancellor's Awards 2025
      
            
                    
                
            
                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                    
             
    
        
        Social scientists shortlisted for the Vice-Chancellor's Awards 2025
17 March 2025
          
        Local Policy Lab launches new opportunities to shape responses to policy challenges in Oxfordshire
      
            
                    
                
            
                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                    
             
    
        
        Local Policy Lab launches new opportunities to shape responses to policy challenges in Oxfordshire
3 March 2025
          
        Early Years summit highlights opportunities to support Oxfordshire's youngest residents
      
            
                    
                
            
                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                    
             
    
        
        Early Years summit highlights opportunities to support Oxfordshire's youngest residents
13 February 2025
          
        Democracy: Common Ground for our collective future
      
            
                    
                
            
                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                    
             
    
        
        Democracy: Common Ground for our collective future
12 February 2025
          
        Social scientists receive Fellowship funding to deepen partnerships beyond academia
      
            
                    
                
            
                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                    
             
    
        
        Social scientists receive Fellowship funding to deepen partnerships beyond academia
6 February 2025
          
        New film series shines a light on innovation stories across the social sciences
      
            
                    
                
            
                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                    
             
    
        
        New film series shines a light on innovation stories across the social sciences
29 January 2025
          
        Oxford-led project awarded £2 million to revolutionise clean hydropower energy
      
            
                    
                
            
                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                    
             
    
        
                                            
    Oxford-led project awarded £2 million to revolutionise clean hydropower energy
18 December 2024
          
        New exhibition explores our universal need to find answers
      
            
                    
                
            
                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                    
             
    
        
        New exhibition explores our universal need to find answers
6 December 2024
Find out more...
                                
        REF Results 2021
      
    
                            
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
        REF Results 2021
                                
        Research and Impact Strategy 2023 - 2028
      
    
                            
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
        Research and Impact Strategy 2023 - 2028
Thematic research spotlights
                                
        AI and Society
      
    
                            
            
            
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
        AI and Society
Inequality and Poverty
                                
        Climate change and resource management
      
    
                            
            
            
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
        Climate change and resource management
                                
        COVID-19
      
    
                            
            
            
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
         
         
                  
               
                  
               
                        
                     
                        
                     
                        
                     
                        
                     
                        
                     
                        
                     
                        
                     
                        
                     
                        
                     
                        
                     
                        
                     
                        
                     
                        
                     
                        
                     
                        
                     
                        
                     
                        
                     
                        
                     
                        
                     
                        
                     
                        
                     
                  
               
                  
               
                  
               
                  
               
                  
               
                  
               
          