This programme provides critical reflection on public sector reforms, including evidence-based policy and practice. It supports creating greater capacity within the UK public and voluntary sectors to conduct, commission and evaluate research as a contribution to the achievement of public goals. With this programme, you can combine taught courses on public policy, public management and research methods with carrying out a substantial piece of independent, doctoral-level research. The School of Sociology and Social Policy undertakes cutting-edge local, national, international and cross-national research through its unique combination of staff that work within and across the disciplines of sociology, criminology, cultural studies, social and public policy and social work. By bringing together and synthesising these disciplines around common interests and issues, we produce theoretically innovative and empirically robust knowledge that is valued by the academic community, policymakers, professionals and service providers. Recent graduates have pursued careers in a diverse range of fields across the public and private sector, including housing, research, marketing, support work, human resources and journalism.