Social Policy ranked 4th in The Times Good University Guide
Social Policy at Bristol has been ranked 4th in the UK in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026.
News in 2025
SPS academic’s new book wins prestigious human rights award
Congratulations to Dr Sandhya Fuchs from the School for Policy Studies (SPS) whose new book has won the 2025 James Busuttil Medal and Prize for human rights scholarship from the Royal Asiatic Society.
Dr Oliver Russell, 1936-2025
Dr Oliver Russell, co-founder and first director of the University’s famous Norah Fry Research Centre (now the Norah Fry Centre for Disability Studies in the School for Policy Studies), died on 25 July. His colleagues offer a remembrance.
SPS hosts pioneering research funded by Defra to help tackle violence against women and girls
A new research programme has been launched to explore the interconnection between the use and abuse of animals by domestic abuse perpetrators and domestic abuse-related homicide-suicide.
Celebration for Class of 2025 graduates
We were delighted to celebrate with graduates from the Class of 2025 at an informal event in Priory Road Gardens after the formal graduation in the Wills Memorial Building.
Experts come together in Bristol for first International Child and Family Conference
Research and policy specialists in child and family life were welcomed to Bristol in June for the inaugural International Child and Family Conference.
Article wins prestigious Social Work award
Congratulations to Beth Tarleton, a senior lecturer in the School for Policy Studies, who was part of the research team which scooped the 2024 Kay McDougall British Journal of Social Work Prize for best article.
Social Policy ranked 3rd in the UK
Social Policy at Bristol has been ranked 3rd in the UK by the Complete University Guide 2026.
Bristol hosts first international child and family conference
Renowned experts in childhood and family life will be in Bristol in June for the inaugural International Child and Family Conference.
Young people turn school uniform into compelling anti-knife crime art
More than 100 school shirts emblazoned with compelling messages capturing children and young people’s feelings about knife crime are set to be publicly exhibited.
Congratulations to Dr Angeliki Papadaki on becoming a University Enterprise Fellow
We are delighted to announce that Dr Papadaki from the School for Policy Studies has been named as one of the University’s 2025-2026 Enterprise Fellows.
SPS academic becomes Academy of Social Sciences Fellow
We are delighted to announce that Professor Geraldine Macdonald, Professor of Social Work from the School for Policy Studies, has been named as one of the new cohort of outstanding social scientists to join the Academy of Social Sciences.
SPS academic awarded Senior Investigator status by the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR).
Congratulations to Professor Geraldine Macdonald, Professor of Social Work in the School for Policy Studies, who has been appointed as a new NIHR Senior Investigator.
Key network to ensure rights for parents with learning disabilities & learning difficulties is moving to a new home
Vital service that supports professionals working with parents with learning disabilities/difficulties is moving from the University of Bristol to Research in Practice
‘Nothing is impossible’ says Somali refugee who juggled Uber driving and studies to fulfil graduation dream in tribute to late brother
When Abdullahi Abdi threw his mortarboard in the air on graduating and looked skyward, his sense of elation was overshadowed by huge sorrow.
Congratulations to our Class of 2024
We were delighted to celebrate with graduates from the Class of 2024 at an event St George's after the formal graduation in the Wills Memorial Building.
Statement on the abduction of alumnus Jesús Armas
The University of Bristol is calling for the release of alumnus Jesús Armas, a human rights activist who has been detained against his will in Venezuela.
Childhood Studies alumna Dez Holmes awarded MBE
Congratulations to Dez Holmes who has been awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list for services to improving social care practice.