Regulation, governance, policy process

The Social Policy and Criminology discipline undertakes active and extensive research in this area. We have expertise in globalisation, transnationalism and social policy; the links between educational policy and society which deal with education, poverty, social class and/or identity; and particularly as examined through the lens of poverty and problematised spaces, racial and other forms of exclusion.

Substantive research interests include:

• global social policy
• historical development of welfare politics, policies and practices
• conflicts over future development of welfare states and systems
• modes of governing welfare and public services
• contested social relations of welfare, nationally and transnationally
• poverty, and welfare
• devolution, nationalism and social policy
• critical engagement with the notion of ‘community’
• music subcultures, gambling, substance use and prohibition drug polities.

Many staff are members of the Harm and Evidence Research Collaborative and Innovation, Knowledge and Development (research centre). Research students are encouraged to participate in the supportive and collegial research culture in the discipline.

Entry requirements

Minimum 2:1 (or equivalent); a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any of the four categories (or approved equivalent).

Potential research projects

We are open to receiving proposals on a wide range of research projects on this broad topic. 

Potential supervisors

• Lucy Bryant
• Dr Victoria Cooper
• Dr. Lynne Copson
• Dr Lystra Hagley-Dickinson
• Dr Dan McCulloch
• Dr Stuart Taylor
• Dr Jamie Waters
• Professor Nicola Yeates

Fees and funding

Some of our research students are funded via The Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership; others are self-funded.

For detailed information about fees and funding, visit Fees and studentships.

To see current funded studentship vacancies across all research areas, see Current studentships.

Links

• Social Policy and Criminology at The Open University
• Harm and Evidence Research Collaborative
• Innovation, Knowledge and Development
• Centre for Global Challenges and Social Justice