About us

Our academics seek answers to some of the world’s biggest philosophical questions, unpick and understand political thought and political action, and interpret and explain complex, global political events. Our research was rated among the strongest in the UK for its impact in the most recent UK Research Excellence Framework, and our academic staff are regularly asked for comment on current events in the media or to provide their research as evidence for Parliamentary consultations and debates. 

We combine research-led teaching with a friendly atmosphere to encourage our students to reach their full potential. Our degrees are modular, meaning that you have the opportunity to choose options you'd like to do and tailor the content to your degree to your own interests. You can choose some options in subjects outside your main areas of study, learn a language as part of your degree, or even study abroad for a while. If you’re interested in undergraduate study, explore our subject pages and sign up for an open day to see what Keele has to offer.

Criminology

Keele was the first university to offer criminology as an undergraduate degree in the UK.  From its pioneering beginnings, we continue to offer innovative and exciting programmes of study at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, which combine established and contemporary topics. The programmes are taught by a group of active criminological researchers who specialise in fields such as policing, prisons, community justice, criminological theory, environmental crime, drugs policy, the voluntary sector in criminal justice, mental health and offending, victim studies, and the history of crime and punishment. Staff are frequently nominated for, and win, University Learning and Teaching Excellence awards. The programme has extensive links with community and criminal justice agencies, which facilitates work experience, volunteering and practical learning opportunities. 

Education

Education has been taught at Keele for over 50 years and we take pride in combining world-class research with committed teaching. Our programmes cover three distinct but combinable strands: teaching-pedagogy, sociology of education, and educational leadership and management, which we offer across our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, from our BA Education (available as both joint and single honours), through PGCE and a range of Masters programmes to our flagship Professional Doctorate in Education (EdD). 

International Relations

International Relations at Keele offers students a flexible and dynamic curriculum informed by cutting-edge research, a friendly, open-minded and multidisciplinary atmosphere, and the chance to test out the skills and knowledge you will develop throughout your degree in the Keele Model United Nations, a forum for simulating multilateral debates in which Keele students have participated at both domestic and international events.

Philosophy

Keele Philosophy has enjoyed a strong reputation since the 1950s, with well-known Keele philosophers including Antony Flew, Richard Swinburne, Jonathan Dancy, and many others. Today it remains a strongly research-led programme but with a friendly and easygoing environment offering a philosophy degree course that includes analytic, continental and world philosophy. 

Politics

Politics at Keele provides a challenging treatment of the ways in which modern political science and political theory have understood a range of contemporary issues and debates. We take a global approach to politics which gives students the opportunity to analyse the complex events and forces that shape our world. One crucial feature of the world is its interconnectedness in geographical, social, economic, cultural and intellectual matters, and these connections cannot be understood without understanding the role of politics.

Sociology

Sociology has been taught at Keele for over 50 years and we are proud of our approach to the discipline that combines a recognition of the need to understand the tradition of the subject with a focus on creativity, innovation, and problem-solving in real-world social situations. In order to ensure that our teaching is live and that it engages with current social concerns relevant to students, our practice is based on our internationally recognised research and engagement with the wider sociological community.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

The Athena SWAN charter is a framework which has been established worldwide to acknowledge efforts to support and realise gender equality within teaching and research in Higher Education. Although the charter began in 2005 specifically to acknowledge institutional progress towards advancing the careers of women in science, it now serves as a global marker of recognition for progress in gender equality in different disciplines and academic departments more generally.

In particular, Athena SWAN assists institutions to assess themselves thoroughly in the areas of teaching, student recruitment and retention, academic culture, opportunities for staff progression and promotion, in addition to research funding and environment. The central objectives are to encourage continued efforts to reflect on good practice in bringing about gender equality.

The School of Social, Political and Global Studies was awarded the Athena SWAN Bronze Award in August 2021. This award acknowledges the significant progress we have made towards gender equality in recent years, which has included forming a thorough and reflective action plan for the near future. Our current priority areas are student recruitment and retention, research support and funding and our broader academic culture.
Although the Bronze award has been a significant achievement, we largely view it as an opportunity and a step towards fully realising equality for all members of the school, not only female students and staff. We especially recognise the challenges posed by the intersection of gender equality issues and questions of ‘race’, ethnicity, disability and age. As part of our commitment to these issues, we hold regular Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee meetings and include Athena SWAN as a standing item in other committees.

If you have any ideas, queries or concerns, you are welcome to contact the School EDI lead, Monica Mookherjee.