Institute for Social Policy, Housing, Equalities Research (I-SPHERE) was established with a mission – to use world-class research to help drive change for people affected by extreme disadvantage.

We are among the UK’s top social and housing policy research centres. In 2020 we were awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education. In the REF 2021, our joint submission with the University of Edinburgh was ranked 1st in Scotland, and 4th in the UK, in the Times Higher Education research ‘power’ rankings. Almost all (92%) of our research was classed as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Our members have a robust track record of externally funded research, including multiple research council grants and long-term commissions from a wide range of charities and government departments throughout the UK and beyond.