The School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HuSS)

We are a large interdisciplinary School carrying out research and teaching across a wide range of humanities and social science fields, aiming for excellence in each, and developing cross-cutting and innovative work between them. More about HuSS

Research Excellence in HuSS

In the latest Research Assessment Exercise, the School ranked 4th or 5th nationally and top of the ’94 group for any combination of at least 4 of its six disciplines, and in the top ten for any combination of them. School staff currently hold over £6 million in research grants from AHRC, ESRC, Wellcome, Leverhulme and other leading funders. We run numerous seminars, workshops and conferences, and host several international journals. Currently, we have over 150 postgraduate research students and about twenty research fellows and assistants. More about research in HuSS

Teaching and study in HuSS

Our teaching is characterised by strong tutorial support and carefully planned programmes to develop skills and understanding to allow students to take increasing responsibility for their learning in more specialised seminar-based modules, linked to staff research expertise. We use diverse methods of assessment to support emphasis on presentation, teamwork and projects/dissertations, as well as essay-writing and exams, and there are opportunities for work experience and study abroad (studying in Arabic, English, French, German, Spanish). Six languages are taught within the School (Arabic, Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew, Kurdish, Latin and Persian), with the latest technology (including Web-CT) used in support of intensive class instruction.

The Times Higher University of the Year 2007/8

Latest News and Events

Security Studies PhD Studentship

Applications are invited for one full-time PhD studentship to commence by Feburary 2009, offered jointly by the University of Exeter and the Doctrine Concept and Development Centre (DCDC), the doctrine centre of Britain’s armed forces. This scholarship offers the selected student the possibility of a three year bursary for the study of a PhD.

ESRC to fund British Security & Foreign Policy study group

The British Security & Foreign Policy (BSFP) Study Group will provide an analysis of current security challenges and future trends. It is led by Tim Dunne (Centre of Advanced International Studies at Exeter); academic partners at Exeter include Gareth Stansfield and Anthony King.

Communism and Communist States Research Group

We are pleased to announce the establishment of this new research group. This informal association aims to bring together members of different departments and schools who share common research interests connected with Communism and Communist States. We plan to hold two or three seminars and workshops per term at which both Exeter academics and external speakers will present their work; our aim is that the group will provide a fruitful and exciting forum for new research that will enrich our research environment here in Exeter.

Establishment of a Centre for Kurdish Studies at the University of Exeter

A Centre for Kurdish Studies (CKS) – the first of its kind outside Kurdistan – will be opened in the University of Exeter as part of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. The establishment of the CKS reflects the strong and growing interest in Kurdish Studies generally, and the existence of a significant research cluster in the University itself.

ESRC funded Study Group on Military Intervention and Ethical Statecraft

Tim Dunne (Head of Politics) and Gareth Stansfield (associate professor in the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies) have won an Economic and Social Science Research Council grant to form a study group on Military Intervention and Ethical Statecraft.

Lessons to be learned from society of robots

An Exeter political philosopher is embarking on an exciting project researching an artificial society of robots.