Our research

Our Research landing page

Research at UEL helps people live better lives all over the world. We are committed to serving as a global gateway and local anchor institution.

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Research at UEL helps people live better lives all over the world. We are committed to serving as a global gateway and local anchor institution.

Research at UEL

At UEL, we deliver high impact projects from a dynamic exciting research environment.

Our research is all about people, change and making the world a better place. Our academics come together with expertise and perspectives from different backgrounds, experiences and fields of study to strive towards a happier, healthier future.

    Cyber and Social Justice

    The internet has turned the world on its head. We are more connected than we’ve ever been but as we connect more, we also connect differently. Our academics are studying ways to make the internet safer, use new connections to protect the vulnerable and support diverse voices online, on stage, in healthcare and wherever else we can.

    Sustainability and Green Tech

    Without our precious planet, we are lost. At UEL, we are rebuilding the way we think about how we protect our planet from the ground up. From the smallest bee-friendly garden or green roof to the largest computer networks and vast peatlands, we see sustainability as an essential responsibility.

    Health and Wellbeing

    Health is more than an occasional visit to the doctor. Our academics explore health and wellbeing as a part of a bigger picture of equality, education and daily life. We work closely with communities to uncover their needs and develop solutions which are suited to them. We believe strongly in the power of people to make changes in their own communities.

      • 1.4m

        1.4m

        UEL has received over £1.4million in research funding to study youth cybercrime and child online harms in the UK, EU and Africa since 2020

      • 3.2m

        3.2m

        The Baby Dev Lab has received £3.2 million in external funding since 2019, from funders including the European Research Council

      • 8000

        8000

        UEL researchers conducted the largest survey of youth cybercrime in the EU ever undertaken with 8000 respondents in 8 countries

      Our Research Centres

      We believe that the best research happens when people work together. Our research institutes are specialised hubs of experts.

      Play

      SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN ONLINE FROM HARM - PROFESSOR JULIA DAVIDSON OBE

      This research has led to several impacts including: influencing online harm policies, internet service regulation and the development of the UK Safety Tech Sector; and development of a child online protection policy and five-year implementation plan in Rwanda.

      As part of our 2028 vision for the University, we have founded new collaborative cross-school, multidisciplinary research centres to tackle the big issues. We also have smaller dedicated research groups within schools for focused research and study.

      Read more about our research centres

      Research Institutes

      Flowers in a meadow

      Sustainability Research Institute (SRI)

      UEL's centre of excellence for environmental research and development

      Explore the SRI
      Students sitting in front of a computer looking at the screen

      Institute for Connected Communities

      The ICC puts online and offline communities at the heart of our research.

      Explore the ICC
      A man and a learning disabled boy smiling at camera

      Rix Research & Media

      Helping people with learning disabilities to realise the benefits that digital can bring.

      Read more

      Research Excellence

      We would like to thank the 238 researchers who contributed to our 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) submission. Our academics are committed to high quality research which is why 92% of UEL's overall research was distinguished as world-leading, internationally excellent or internationally recognised.

      Learn more about our REF submission