With proven excellence in both teaching and research, our specialist Social and Political Sciences team offer expert tuition in all core areas of our subjects as well as a range of research-informed specialisms. From global issues to local struggles, urban sociology to international security, our academic team provides engaged teaching and research in comparative politics, sociological theory, area studies, British and European politics as well as in gender, identity, sustainability, consumption and public policy.
All students have the opportunity to apply their subject knowledge via our range of innovative practice-based learning opportunities on our core practice modules. In addition, our students develop research methods skills and knowledge via a suite of research methods modules that support and compliment subject-specific modules.
We have a thriving post-graduate research community, host regular research seminars and lead the NTU REF submission for Politics and International Studies (C19). The Department is also currently home to Nottingham Civic Exchange (NCE) – an innovative think tank that connects research expertise across the School with internal and external partners to explore policy debates and to develop and progress practical projects at the local, city and regional level.
Our courses
Politics, International Relations and Global Studies
Are you fascinated by our changing world? Passionate about current affairs? See yourself working in local government or at the UN? Our internationally recognised research directly feeds into your degree, making sure you’re learning about the latest findings in your field.
Sociology
Intrigued by the social world in which we live? Our courses will open your mind to a range of issues related to culture and society.
Our Research Groups and Centres
Gender Research Group
The Gender Research Group's aim is to promote social and democratic inclusion and transformation at global, national and local levels through critical examination of the myriad ways gender matters in shaping people’s identities, experiences and opportunities.
Cities and Community
Driven by a commitment to social justice, members of this group engage in research that seeks to explore and problematise the socio-political phenomena shaping peoples’ lives, with a particular interest in questions of identity and territory broadly construed.
International Security and Sustainability
(In)security as experienced by individuals, societies, states and others is changing. Individual, local, national and international policies taken to promote security, therefore, also need to change. With this in mind, our group investigates innovative and sustainable security policies to inform decision-makers.
Citizenship, Democracy and Transformation
Democracies around the world are undergoing considerable transformation. The Citizenship, Democracy and Transformation group conducts research on urgent questions concerning these transformations, their challenges and opportunities, and the sustainable futures of democracies.
Work Futures Research Group
The rapidly changing world of work remains a major topic of political and scholarly focus, and has been highlighted as an urgent concern across numerous organisations and professional bodies around the world. The Work Futures Research Group builds on and consolidates areas of strength within and beyond the School of Social Sciences at NTU, to address some of the most challenging issues these changes present.
Latest news
Student-led research tackles frontline healthcare issues
Wed 02 Jul 2025
Expert blog: The impact of financial support on self-isolation - giving evidence to the Covid-19 Inquiry
Thu 05 Jun 2025
Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice awarded Athena SWAN Bronze Award
Tue 03 Jun 2025
£5.9 million multi-university project will drive better use of academic evidence in public policymaking
Tue 03 Jun 2025
Expert Blog: Kashmir terror attacks and identity politics - the need for a new Kashmir narrative
Wed 14 May 2025
NTU recognised as Policing Academic Centre of Excellence
Wed 07 May 2025