Re-imagining humanities and social sciences at Queen Mary
As you may be aware, staff across our Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences have been in discussions about a programme of change that will ensure Queen Mary continues to be a leading force in research, education and creative practice in the arts, humanities and social sciences.
We have been focusing on three priorities:
- Coherence and consistency in delivery
Simplifying and focusing our activities to protect research capacity and provide excellent student experience and education.
- Regroup and regenerate
Adapt to ensure a sustainable future for our current range of disciplines, so that we continue to build on their fantastic heritage of research and educational excellence.
- Premium postgraduate delivery at scale
Investing and innovating to meet our student recruitment ambitions and ensure that students have the outstanding experience they expect when they come to study with us.
Frequently asked questions
Queen Mary, like other universities in the UK, continues to operate in a changing national and international landscape. The ambition to maintain and improve on our success remains at the forefront of all we do.
Throughout our history, Queen Mary and our predecessor institutions have changed with the times, adapting to new circumstances to ensure we could continue to pursue our research and educational missions.
The Faculty has been reviewing its organisational structures and activities to prepare us for any challenges ahead, and to maintain our status as an inventive leader in the arts, humanities and social sciences.
The humanities and social sciences are vital to Queen Mary realising its aim to be the most inclusive and diverse research-intensive university in the world by 2030.
The education and research provided by our Faculty play a leading national role in opening the doors of opportunity and supporting career pathways across arts, humanities, social sciences, creative industries, literatures and languages.
If we begin to address the challenges now, we have a greater opportunity to build the future of the Faculty in the way we want it.
We want to keep all the things that you value about your degree. But we also want to improve in ways that gives you a better experience.
We also want to build an environment that will continue to deliver excellent education and research for the students who come after you.
We are engaging with colleagues on a proposal to bring the current Schools of History, Politics and International Relations, and Geography together within a single School.
These Schools are recognised for their exceptional research and strong reputations within the university. We are proud of this excellence and are actively shaping a future that ensures a sustainable and secure foundation for these essential disciplines.
The establishment of a new School requires an alteration to the University’s Ordinances. Such an alteration has to be approved by Council, on a recommendation from the President and Principal, after consulting Senate by July 2025.
No. If you are in SPIR, History or Geography then you will be part of the new School from September 2025.
There will be no immediate change for students and no difference to the delivery of your course. You will continue the same programme of study and graduate with the same degree. The range of modules available next year will be unaffected, and you will continue to receive support from administrative and academic staff.
We will keep you updated as work progresses, and we welcome your thoughts and ideas throughout this process.
Please send any questions you have that are not addressed here to hss-future@qmul.ac.uk