Durham University Department of Sociology

13/10/2026

Today, Dr Kate Tudor from our criminology team gave evidence at a Home Affairs Select Committee on the impact of organised crime on neighbourhoods.

08/10/2026

Everyday as we walk into our offices, we're reminded of the force of good, the dedication of South African anti-apartheid scholar Ruth First.
https://www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/latest-news/2026/07/ruth-first-wing-opens-at-durham-university/

07/10/2026

07/07/2026

🎓 Congratulations to all of our incredible students who graduated today! 🎉

We know how hard you've worked to reach this milestone, and we couldn't be prouder of everything you've achieved.

We hope you have had a lovely time celebrating today! 🌟🎓

01/07/2026

Last week, we celebrated the opening of the Ruth First Wing in our new building - a meaningful milestone for our department and community. It was a pleasure to welcome colleagues, students, alumni and friends to mark the occasion together, reflecting on Ruth First's legacy as a scholar, activist, and champion of social justice. Thank you to everyone who joined us for the celebration.
Read more below 👇

Durham University Department of Sociology has named part of its home in honour of anti-apartheid activist, writer, journalist and lecturer Ruth First.

Ruth, who lectured in Sociology at Durham University in the 1970s, was a fearless campaigner against racial segregation and discrimination in her native South Africa.

Discover more: https://brnw.ch/21x3Nps

19/06/2026

Michelle Addison, Donna Marie Brown, Kate O'brien, Hannah King have been working together editing and writing papers for a special issue of the British Journal of Criminology focused on 'Crime and Social Harm'.
Check them out here: https://academic.oup.com/bjc/issue/66/4
Includes articles from Michelle, Donna Marie, Kate and Hannah: 'Working together on life's wicked problems' and Steve Macdonald with Donna Peacock: 'Dis/ableist criminology: Conceptualising the social harms experienced by neurodivergent individuals who have encountered the criminal justice system'

18/06/2026

📢 We are pleased to announce that we are recruiting to a three-year Career Development Fellowship in Sociology/Criminology.

This post offers an excellent opportunity for an outstanding early career scholar to join our department and contribute to our research and teaching community.

📅 Application deadline: 2nd July (midnight)

Further details and the job description are available here: https://durham.taleo.net/careersection/du_ext/jobdetail.ftl?job=26000817&lang=en

18/06/2026

We have been ranked 85th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, up nine places from last year, and in the world top 50 for Employer Reputation🎉

Professor Karen O’Brien, our Vice-Chancellor and Warden, said: “To rise nine places to 85th in the QS World University Rankings is a tremendous achievement, in an outstanding year for Durham University.

“That employers rank us among the world’s top 50 universities is particularly important for our students and graduates, indicating the exceptional value that a Durham degree holds in equipping students for work and preparing them for career success.”

The QS World University Rankings are widely acknowledged as the most influential university rankings globally.

Read more: www.durham.ac.uk/discover/qs-world-university-rankings/

22/05/2026

🌞 Fantastic morning celebrating practitioner research projects with final year students on our Master of Social Work programme. Then we heard from Year 10 Durham Johnston students Esme and Louis about their project looking into Young People and Health Inequalities in the NE as part of their week of work experience with us.
Thanks to .r.88 supporting student social work research, and .r.88 for hosting an excellent week of work experience. 🌞

15/05/2026

Insight into public sector and social impact roles.
See advert to apply by Friday 29th May!