King's College London - Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy

Welcome to the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy

We live in a period of global, social, technological and economic transformations. In the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy (SSPP) we seek to understand these changes and to shape transformations through our education and research. We make our distinctive contributions by giving our students the skills, judgement and confidence to embrace and shape change, and through our connected and engaged research, backed by clear strategies to have an impact in the world.

We are home to one of the largest, most diverse and international communities for social research and education in Europe. We have world-leading expertise across social science disciplines, with recognised strengths in security studies, political economy, global health, social risk and resilience, and education and social justice. Our global perspective draws on specialist expertise about important and dynamic regions of the world, including the European Union, China, India, Brazil, Russia and the Middle East.

We believe our education and research can influence change by focusing on real-world problems, combining perspectives, insights and methods from different bodies of knowledge, and working with our partners in society. We have deep relationships with government, business, civil society and international organisations, using our position in central London to convene and influence understanding, innovation and practice in the UK and internationally. We share a commitment to engaged curiosity and action in an open, collaborative and inclusive culture.

When you join SSPP, you become part of one of the largest, most international and most highly regarded faculties of its kind in the United Kingdom, at the heart of one of the world's greatest and most influential cities.

Our connections

With its Global Institutes and significant strategic partnerships, the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy is widely connected internationally.

Students, academic staff and visiting professors and fellows benefit from our London base which includes a broad network of academics, journalists, thinktanks, policymakers, civil servants and politicians. We organise lectures, discussions and policy debates that aim to educate, inform and influence at the highest levels.

In any one year about half of SSPP’s students come to study at King’s from over 80 countries.

Each School in the Faculty has developed staff and student exchange programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate level and we are committed to internationalising our curriculum to give our students a global perspective.

The opportunities on offer include formal joint degrees where we regularly exchange small cohorts of students with our partner universities, as well as study abroad opportunities which are offered in many degree programmes.

As well as global education connections, we have many international collaborations.

In the last five years, our academics have been engaged in research with more than 120 institutions worldwide, bringing opportunities for PhD students and early career researchers to collaborate on international research projects, helping them to build their own networks in their individual fields.

Two recent initiatives launched as part of King’s Vision 2029, the International School for Government and the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, are building off this base of activity to provide professional development and create deeper networks that have impact at a global level.

Research

Our research culture

Advancing social science scholarship to help tackle some of the most important social, ethical and political issues of our time

Serving society

Research in the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy is closely related to public services and institutions, as well as to business and industry. Our dynamic research culture contributes to our success as a leading centre for research excellence; it underpins our teaching, informs our strategic planning and continues King’s long-standing commitment to serve society.Our academic staff advise governments, serve on commissions and public bodies and are seconded to national and international organisations. Through their work with the public, private and voluntary sectors, our Faculty's expertise is made available to the wider community.