Former faculty members include William Beveridge, Richard Titmuss and Peter Townsend.
The department obtained the top-ranked score in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
99% of research outputs were graded world-leading or internationally excellent.
At undergraduate level it is possible to read for a single honours in International social and public policy or joint honours in International social and public policy and economics or with politics.
Taught postgraduate courses draw on strengths in international and comparative social and public policy, development, education, migration, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), criminology, behavioural public policy, and social policy research.