On January 1st 2009, the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (SPS) and the Centre of International Studies (CIS) merged to become the Faculty of Politics, Psychology, Sociology and International Studies (PPSIS).

Click here to read more about the recent Faculty changes

The Faculty of Politics, Psychology, Sociology and International Studies currently houses three academic departments (Politics and International Studies, Social and Developmental Psychology and Sociology) plus the Centre for Family Research. Each of these has a worldwide reputation for teaching and research and the undergraduate curriculum (Tripos) is designed to serve both students who have a clear disciplinary commitment at the time of application as well as those who want a broader multidisciplinary degree. Students who want to be psychologists follow a curriculum approved by the British Psychological Society, while those with a passion for politics can take advantage of links with such departments as History, and those with interests in Sociology can draw on Anthropology, Geography, as well as Politics.

Undergraduate students study several disciplines in their first year, and then specialise in one or two disciplines in their second and third years. Clearly specified tracks (Politics, Psychology, Sociology) combine disciplines such as sociology and politics, sociology and psychology, and psychology and politics, ensuring that students graduate with appropriate intellectual and professional skills.

At the postgraduate level, there are established one-year M.Phils in Politics, Sociology and in Social and Developmental Psychology. Ph.D students conduct research within a wide range of subjects within Politics, Psychology and Sociology.