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Accessibility statement
An image to illustrate the Social Policy and Criminology research area
The Social Policy and Criminology at The Open University is recognised nationally and internationally for its distinctive interdisciplinary approach to research and teaching. A vibrant research culture, drawing broadly on critical and interdisciplinary approaches to Social Policy and Criminology is sustained through our commitment to producing outstanding scholarship and research.
Our research is recognised as being of national and international significance in terms of theoretical innovations and in catalysing and informing public dialogue and policy change on many issues in Social Policy and Criminology.
We engage in qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research, and have an international reputation for methodological originality, with particular strengths in visual methods, biographical and life-story research, discourse analysis, historical methods, and ethnography.
Many members of Social Policy and Criminology are actively involved in the Centre for Global Challenges and Social Justice (GCSJ) and the Harm and Evidence Research Collaborative (HERC). Research students are warmly encouraged to join these centres and to take an active part in our supportive and collegial research culture.
Most of our full-time research students are based at our Milton Keynes campus; for details of residence requirements for different modes of study, see Full-time study and Part-time study.
Graduates of our PhD programme thrive in a wide range of different sectors. Many of our graduates teach in universities across the UK and overseas, while others have pursued careers in the civil service, local government, public services, private sector organisations and voluntary and charitable organisations.
Explore specific areas of research, current and prospective projects, entry requirements, fees and funding, available supervisors, how to apply and contact details for advice.
Children and young people
Crime, harm, zemiology, and criminalisation
Genders and sexuality
Harms against nonhuman animals, vegan criminology
Migrations, diasporas, transnational communities
Penal theory, policy, punishment, and justice
Police policy and practice
Regulation, governance and policy
Social policy and social justice
Subcultures, countercultures, culture
Consider linked topics from other research areas.
Ageing and later life
Child and youth studies
Culture and environmental change in the Anthropocene
Death, dying and bereavement
Economics of health, social policy and wellbeing
Education futures
Health systems and development
History of crime, policing and criminal justice
Living with disability and long-term conditions
Reproduction, sexualities and sexual health
I’m passionate about social justice and economic independence of all women, in particular, that of childfree young women. I chose the OU specifically as they saw the value of my topic and research and provided me with the flexibility to do this study I designed. The OU has shaped me into the PhD researcher I am today. It has shown me that the research environment can be one of kindness and collegiality.