About the College of Social Sciences

Ever since the launch of our first Commerce and Social Work degrees in the 1900s, we have had a legacy of bringing together research rigour and academic excellence - learning about the world, and then working to change it.

Connected with the realities of everyday life, our research shapes policy, transforms systems, and improves lives. From classrooms to care, governments to industry, we create and inform real-world change.

Our insight comes from our communities - both local and global - and takes form through the people we teach, work with and learn from. Our graduates go on to lead classrooms, communities, care systems, and companies, shaping society as teachers, carers, social workers, business leaders, and policymakers.

Our vision

We have a vision for a fairer world. A world of equal opportunity, led by diverse voices that drive positive, sustainable change, and create long-lasting impact. This vision is guided by four key principles.

Rooted in the city of Birmingham – the United Kingdom’s second city with a young and superdiverse population – we are committed to serving our communities and driven by our sense of place. We are led by the needs of the cities we are located in, with our research informing change for a fairer and more sustainable society, and our graduates fulfilling some of the most important roles in our community.

The research we do and the education we provide are backed by practice. Across all our work, we collaborate with public services, practitioners and regional stakeholders to propel innovation and impact. But we don't just have ideas. We make change. Our academics engage closely with governments, businesses, and the third sector to support evidence-driven policy change.

At the heart of all that we do is people. Their lived experiences, needs, and stories are at the centre of our ambition - tackling discrimination and creating an open, inclusive culture where everyone can thrive and succeed.

Our global impact

We are a globally connected College, collaborating with like-minded partners to push the boundaries of knowledge in social sciences, shape policies and practices, and drive change on the global stage. 

Based across our world-class campuses in Birmingham and Dubai, the College is a global, diverse, and inclusive community of currently more than 12,500 students, 900 academics, and 300 professional services staff. Currently more than half of our students and one-third of our staff come from international backgrounds.

Beyond our Edgbaston and Dubai campuses, we also deliver transnational education programmes in Singapore and Malaysia. Building on these foundations, we ensure that our graduates are amongst the most employable, innovative, and entrepreneurial, and equipped with a strong sense of global responsibility. 

We have cultivated an extensive global network, partnering with over 180 institutions across more than 50 countries, and with a network of over 100,000 alumni across 185 countries.

Our staff community

The talent, motivation and diversity of our staff is central to all that we do, and makes delivering our vision possible. We are dedicated to building a thriving organisational culture where everyone has equal opportunity to succeed.

We draw on the expertise of our researchers and the wealth of knowledge in social sciences to drive sustainable, innovation and ethical approaches that serve our staff community.

Equality, diversity and belonging are at the heart of all that we do, and our College Board are committed to bettering the workplace and improving opportunities for all.