Social sciences

REF 2021's social sciences panel reviewed research from eight different areas of study at Brunel, represented by 255 of our researchers.

It encompassed Anthropology and Development Studies research with partners in India and Rwanda; Business and Management Studies research involving Greek, Bangladeshi and other partners across the globe; and Economics and Econometrics research with the Bank of England, the European Central Bank, the IMF and the OECD.

We raised £1.4 million of investment for our Education research since the last REF in 2014, and our achievements in Law include leading a Horizon 2020 project, totalling £4.78 million, on managing migration flows. Our Politics and International Studies research involved 41 countries, from Albania to Zambia; our Sociology research income has more than trebled since 2014; and our research submitted to the Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism Unit of Assessment has had impact across the Commonwealth.

Results highlights

Only UK university to have 100% of anthropology papers world-leading or internationally excellent

100% of our politics impact case studies world-leading or internationally excellent

100% of our sociology impact case studies world-leading or internationally excellent

Research power places our Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences 7th best in the country among research-intensive universities

REF Unit of Assessment (click for full details)	College	Subjects	World leading or internationally excellent research	4^*	3^*	2^*	1^*	FTE equivalent
Anthropology and Development Studies (UoA 22) popup window	College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences	Anthropology	88.0%	17.0%	71.0%	12.0%	0.0%	11
Business and Management Studies (UoA 17) popup window	College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences	Business School	64.0%	19.0%	45.0%	25.0%	11.0%	72
Economics and Econometrics (UoA 16) popup window	College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences	Economics and Finance	61.0%	1.0%	60.0%	29.0%	9.0%	37.6
Education (UoA 23) popup window	College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences	Education	53.0%	10.0%	43.0%	43.0%	4.0%	18.2
Law (UoA 18) popup window	College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences	Law	60.0%	26.0%	34.0%	37.0%	3.0%	38.5
Politics and International Studies (UoA 19) popup window	College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences	History, Politics and International Relations	80.0%	20.0%	60.0%	20.0%	0.0%	27.0
Sociology (UoA 21) popup window	College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences	Journalism, Sociology	69.0%	18.0%	51.0%	30.0%	1.0%	19.6
Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism (UoA 24) popup window	College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences	Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences	94.0%	36.0%	58.0%	6.0%	0.0%	26.0

Anthropology and Development Studies (UoA 22)	4^*	3^*	2^*	1^*	U/C
Overall	17.0%	71.0%	12.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Output (65%)	28.6%	71.4%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Impact (20%)	0.0%	50.0%	50.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Environment (15%)	0.0%	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%

88% of research in Anthropology and Development Studies at Brunel is world leading or internationally excellent

Rwanda’s ‘Uber for motorbike taxis’ triumph

An uber-style phone app that helps motorbike taxi riders find careful drivers and makes the streets safer transforms transport across Africa. - Example of REF 2021 Case Study Read more on Rwanda’s ‘Uber for motorbike taxis’ triumph

Business and Management Studies (UoA 17)	4^*	3^*	2^*	1^*	U/C
Overall	19.0%	45.0%	25.0%	11.0%	0.0%
Output (65%)	21.1%	52.2%	25.0%	1.7%	0.0%
Impact (20%)	25.0%	16.7%	16.6%	41.7%	0.0%
Environment (15%)	0.0%	62.5%	37.5%	0.0%	0.0%

64% of research in Business and Management at Brunel is world-leading or internationally excellent

Business brains helping Uganda dairy farmers milk it

Waste-saving ideas borrowed from Japanese car makers are the magic formula helping Uganda’s dairy farmers - Example of REF 2021 Case Study Read more on Business brains helping Uganda dairy farmers milk it

Economics and Econometrics (UoA 16)	4^*	3^*	2^*	1^*	U/C
Overall	1.0%	60.0%	29.0%	9.0%	1.0%
Output (65%)	1.1%	57.4%	35.1%	5.3%	1.1%
Impact (20%)	0.0%	50.0%	25.0%	25.0%	0.0%
Environment (15%)	0.0%	87.5%	12.5%	0.0%	0.0%

61% of research in Economics and Econometrics at Brunel is world-leading or internationally excellent

Caribbean pensions on a better financial footing

An outstanding example of how effective pension reforms can have a fundamental impact on both regulators and at-risk people in several countries. - Example of REF 2021 Case Study Read more on Caribbean pensions on a better financial footing

Education (UoA 23)	4^*	3^*	2^*	1^*	U/C
Overall	10.0%	43.0%	43.0%	4.0%	0.0%
Output (65%)	17.4%	47.8%	28.3%	6.5%	0.0%
Impact (20%)	0.0%	25.0%	75.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Environment (15%)	0.0%	50.0%	50.0%	0.0%	0.0%

53% of research in Education at Brunel is world-leading or internationally excellent

Helping housing associations offer better services, training and support

Dr Wainwright drew on geographies and sociologies of education, training and welfare to help housing associations design smarter services for their residents - Example of REF 2021 Case Study Read more on Helping housing associations offer better services, training and support

Law (UoA 18)	4^*	3^*	2^*	1^*	U/C
Overall	26.0%	34.0%	37.0%	3.0%	0.0%
Output (65%)	21.8%	34.5%	39.1%	4.6%	0.0%
Impact (20%)	50.0%	25.0%	25.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Environment (15%)	0.0%	50.0%	50.0%	0.0%	0.0%

64% of research in Law at Brunel is world-leading or internationally excellent

Problems with family courts exposed

Dr Barnett has changed public opinion, shaped the political agenda and changed laws and legal practice to help domestic abuse survivors and their children. - Example of REF 2021 Case Study Read more on Problems with family courts exposed

Politics and International Studies (UoA 19)	4^*	3^*	2^*	1^*	U/C
Overall	20.0%	60.0%	20.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Output (65%)	16.2%	55.9%	27.9%	0.0%	0.0%
Impact (20%)	33.3%	66.7%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Environment (15%)	12.5%	62.5%	25.0%	0.0%	0.0%

80% of research in Politics and International Studies at Brunel is world-leading or internationally excellent

21st century poachers: How intelligence experts are helping save the rhino

Intelligence-led approach helps parks reduce their poaching incidents and increase poaching arrests. - Example of REF 2021 Case Study Read more on 21st century poachers: How intelligence experts are helping save the rhino

Research team member Luke Townsend doing intelligence training with local rangers.

Sociology (UoA 21)	4^*	3^*	2^*	1^*	U/C
Overall	18.0%	51.0%	30.0%	1.0%	0.0%
Output (65%)	30.6%	32.7%	34.7%	2.0%	0.0%
Impact (20%)	0.0%	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Environment (15%)	0.0%	37.5%	62.5%	0.0%	0.0%

69% of research in Sociology at Brunel is world-leading or internationally excellent

Sensing our need for authentic experiences of cities

Research shaping new ways of thinking and informing new working practices for museum curators, educators, architects and urban planners - Example of REF 2021 Case Study Read more on Sensing our need for authentic experiences of cities

Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism (UoA 24)	4^*	3^*	2^*	1^*	U/C
Overall	36.0%	58.0%	6.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Output (65%)	29.2%	61.6%	9.2%	0.0%	0.0%
Impact (20%)	50.0%	50.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Environment (15%)	37.5%	62.5%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%

94% of research in Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism was rated as world leading or internationally excellent

Making the beautiful game fair play

Sports sociologist, Dr Laura Hills’ research into mixed gender football directly set up five far-reaching changes in national policy - Example of REF 2021 Case Study Read more on Making the beautiful game fair play