Our centre
Director: Nikki Shure
Social Sciences with Data Science BSc
Our Social Sciences with Data Science BSc programme gives students training in both social sciences (primarily Economics and Sociology) and quantitative data analysis.
Social Research Methods with Data Science MSc
We run the Social Research Methods MSc, which provides students with advanced training in social data science and qualitative research methodology skills.
Meet Dr Ozan Aksoy
Read a Q&A with Dr Ozan Aksoy, a Lecturer in Social Science and the Programme Leader for the Social Sciences with Quantitative Methods BSc.
At QSS, we tackle diverse social issues – from inequality in education, work, and society to climate change and youth development – through advanced quantitative methods. Our centre combines expertise in sociology, economics, and data science working with administrative data, surveys, and emerging data sources. Our research is global in scope and policy-driven, influencing practices in multiple countries.
We host UCL’s flagship BSc Social Science with Data Science, uniquely combining social theory from disciplines like economics, sociology, and psychology with practical data skills. Our MSc in Social Research Methods with Data Science and MSc Sociology with Data Science further train students to become quantitative social researchers, equipping them for impactful careers.
Our work shapes public policy, informing governments, charities, and businesses. We've influenced student loan design and improved how evidence is reported by governments. Our researchers are recognized globally for their real-world impact.
Current projects include studies on the gender wage gap, social mobility, climate change, and COVID-19’s effects on youth. Our work is supported by leading funders such as the Nuffield Foundation, European Research Council, ESRC, and government bodies.
News
IOE academics among newest Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences
Professors Lisa Calderwood, John Jerrim and Dick Wiggins have been recognised in the 2025 Academy of Social Sciences Fellowships for their contributions to the social sciences for public benefit.
01 Apr 2025
Two fifths of people have chronic pain by their 40s, with consequences for later life
Chronic pain is widespread among those in their mid-40s in Britain, with those who experience it more likely to report pain, poor health - including COVID-19 infection - and joblessness later in life, according to a new study by researchers at IOE and Dartmouth College, US.
02 Nov 2022
IOE academics elected as Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences
Professors Qing Gu and Alex Bryson join this year’s leading experts who have been made Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences.
01 Sep 2022
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Contact us
Social Research Institute
IOE – Faculty of Education and Society
University College London
55–59 Gordon Square
London WC1H 0NU
Quantitative Social Science (QSS)
Click to email. ioe.sriadmin@ucl.ac.uk