School of Advanced Study
The School of Advanced Study (SAS) is a postgraduate institution of the University of London, established in August 1994 as the UK's national centre for the promotion, facilitation, and support of research in the humanities and social sciences.[1] Located in Senate House in Bloomsbury, central London, it serves as a hub for advanced scholarly activity, bringing together researchers, students, and resources to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.[2] SAS was founded as a federation of nine existing University of London research institutes, with the aim of protecting and developing specialized approaches to advanced study that had evolved over decades, some dating back to 1921.[1] Officially opened on 15 March 1995 by philosopher Sir Anthony Kenny, it has since evolved into a key national resource, securing ongoing funding through successful evaluations by HEFCE in 2013 and by Research England in 2018 and 2024.[1] Today, it comprises eight internationally renowned institutes—Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Institute of Classical Studies, Institute of Commonwealth Studies, Institute of English Studies, Institute of Historical Research, Institute of Latin American Studies, Institute of Modern Languages Research, and Institute of Philosophy—along with several specialized centres focused on areas such as digital humanities, book history, and refugee law.[3] The School offers a range of postgraduate programs, including master's degrees like the MA in Languages and Cultures Across Borders and the MRes in History of the Book, as well as research training, fellowships, and distance learning options tailored to humanities scholars.[4] It emphasizes open access publishing through the University of London Press and hosts collaborative projects that demonstrate the impact of humanities research on policy, education, and public engagement.[2] Notable milestones include its 20th anniversary in 2015 and 30th in 2024, underscoring its enduring role in advancing UK and global scholarship.[1]History
Founding
The School of Advanced Study (SAS) was established in August 1994 by the University of London as a federation of nine pre-existing research institutes focused on the humanities and social sciences.[1][5] These included the Warburg Institute (transferred to the University in 1944), the Institute of Historical Research (1921), the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (1947), the Institute of Commonwealth Studies (1949), the Institute of Classical Studies (1953), the Institute of Latin American Studies (1965), the Institute of Germanic Studies (1976), the Institute of Romance Studies (1989), and the Centre for English Studies (1991). This consolidation aimed to unify and enhance the support for advanced scholarly activities that had developed independently within these institutes over preceding decades. The official opening of the School took place on 15 March 1995, presided over by Sir Anthony Kenny, marking its formal integration into the University's structure as a dedicated entity for postgraduate-level endeavors.[1] The precursor institutes forming the initial federation had diverse origins, with the Institute of Historical Research (IHR) serving as the oldest, founded in 1921 to advance historical scholarship through resources and collaborative opportunities.[6][1] Established under the University of London, the IHR's creation reflected early efforts to build specialized centers for rigorous academic inquiry in specific disciplines, a model that influenced the subsequent development of other institutes in areas such as classics, advanced legal studies, and philosophy. These entities provided the foundational infrastructure that SAS would later coordinate and amplify. From its inception, SAS was designed to foster interdisciplinary research across the humanities and social sciences, acting as a national resource hub for scholars by offering specialized libraries, seminars, and collaborative platforms.[5] Its core purpose emphasized promoting postgraduate training and advanced study—through programs like MAs, MRes, and PhDs—without providing undergraduate degrees, thereby distinguishing it as a postgraduate federation rather than a conventional college within the University.[7][1] This structure enabled SAS to serve as a catalyst for both individual and collective research initiatives, supporting the UK's broader scholarly community in generating impactful contributions to knowledge.[5]Development and Expansion
Following its establishment in 1994 as a federation of nine University of London research institutes, the School of Advanced Study underwent significant expansion through the integration and evolution of its constituent bodies. The foundational institutes included the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (founded 1947), the Institute of Commonwealth Studies (1949), the Institute of Classical Studies (1953), and the Institute of Latin American Studies (1965), which provided core expertise in law, global affairs, classics, and regional studies. Subsequent additions in the late 1990s and early 2000s further diversified its scope, with the Institute of English Studies emerging from a 1991 centre and gaining institute status in 1999 to focus on literary and textual scholarship; the Institute of Modern Languages Research formed in 2004 via merger of earlier Germanic and Romance studies entities; and the Institute of Philosophy established in 2005 to advance philosophical inquiry. These developments, along with mergers such as the combination of the Institute of Germanic and Romance Studies into the Institute of Modern Languages Research, culminated in a streamlined structure of nine institutes by the mid-2000s, emphasizing interdisciplinary humanities research while adapting to further changes, such as the 2013 reconfiguration of the Institute for the Study of the Americas into the revitalized Institute of Latin American Studies.[8][9][10][11][12][1] Key milestones marked the School's growth and national prominence. In 2014, it launched the Being Human festival, the UK's first national humanities event, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy, fostering public engagement through over 160 activities across the country and expanding annually to international editions in Australia and the USA by 2024. Funding stability was reinforced through periodic reviews by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and its successor, Research England; notable successes included a 2012-2013 evaluation securing a rolling five-year grant and a 2018 recommendation for special funding, extended in 2021 and confirmed for another five years in 2024 to support its role as a national humanities hub. In the 2020s, the School developed its Strategic Prospectus to 2030 (published 2023), prioritizing interdisciplinary projects, researcher training, and global partnerships to address societal challenges like inequality and cultural heritage.[1][13][14] The School navigated financial pressures in UK higher education during the 2010s via strategic reviews and diversification of income sources, maintaining its special funding status despite broader sector austerity measures. The COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022) prompted accelerated adaptations, including enhanced virtual events and resources to sustain research facilitation amid disruptions. By 2025, expansions in research support encompassed advanced digital libraries—such as the Senate House Library's ongoing refurbishment—and strengthened international collaborations, including ties with the University of London Institute in Paris and support for global south initiatives through fellowships and networks like the UK-Ireland Digital Humanities Association. These efforts underscore the School's evolution into a resilient, digitally enabled national resource for humanities scholarship.[1][14][13]Location and Facilities
Senate House
The School of Advanced Study is primarily located in Senate House, University of London, at Malet Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7HU, in the heart of central London.[15] This positioning places it in close proximity to key cultural and research institutions, such as the British Museum and the British Library, facilitating easy access for scholars.[2] Senate House, constructed between 1932 and 1937, exemplifies Art Deco architecture designed by Charles Holden, featuring a striking Portland stone facade and a 210-foot tower that rises 19 stories.[16] During World War II, the building served as the headquarters for the Ministry of Information, which coordinated wartime propaganda and information efforts.[16] Recognized for its architectural and historical importance, it was designated a Grade II* listed building in 1969.[17] Since its establishment in 1994, the School of Advanced Study has used Senate House as its primary site, accommodating administrative offices, versatile event spaces for conferences and seminars, and activities from several of its constituent institutes.[1] The building's central location enhances accessibility for researchers, who can reach major national archives and collections on foot, supporting interdisciplinary humanities work.[2]Libraries and Resources
The School of Advanced Study's libraries and resources constitute a vital national infrastructure for humanities and social sciences scholarship, centered on Senate House Library as the primary repository. This library maintains over 2 million printed volumes, alongside 50 special collections and 1,800 archival holdings, encompassing subjects such as history, literature, philosophy, psychology, music, and social sciences.[18] Its historic collections feature rare books, manuscripts, maps, and early printed materials, including pre-1851 imprints and unique archives that support advanced interdisciplinary research.[19] Complementing these are extensive digital archives and electronic resources accessible to members, enabling remote and on-site exploration of primary sources.[20] Institute-specific libraries within the School provide specialized depth to these offerings. The Wohl Library of the Institute of Historical Research holds nearly 200,000 volumes, forming a comprehensive reference collection of printed primary sources for medieval and modern British, European, and American history, with additional microfilm, theses, and cartographic materials.[21][22] Similarly, the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Library curates over 300,000 volumes as one of the world's leading comparative law collections in the UK, featuring primary legal texts, statutes, case reports, and secondary analyses from international jurisdictions.[23][24] These institute libraries, including those at the Warburg Institute and others, collectively represent one of the globe's most significant assemblages in the arts, humanities, and social sciences, with targeted holdings in areas like art history, classics, and commonwealth studies.[25] Digital resources amplify the accessibility of these collections through open-access platforms, e-journals, and specialized databases. The Institute of Historical Research's British History Online, for instance, digitizes nearly 1,300 volumes of primary and secondary sources on British and Irish history, promoting preservation and wide scholarly use.[26][27] Such tools, including subscription-based e-resources, are integral to the School's fellowships and scholarships, where awardees gain enhanced access to facilitate their projects.[7] On a national scale, these libraries underscore their role in cultural heritage preservation by granting free membership and borrowing privileges to postgraduate research students from all UK universities, thereby serving as a shared resource for the nation's humanities community as of 2025.[28][29] This open policy, combined with the libraries' archival commitments, ensures the safeguarding and dissemination of key historical and scholarly materials.[25]Governance and Structure
Institutes
The School of Advanced Study (SAS) comprises eight constituent institutes, each specializing in distinct areas of the humanities and serving as national hubs for advanced research and scholarship. These institutes, some of which predate SAS's formation in 1994, collaborate closely under its umbrella to foster interdisciplinary initiatives, such as joint seminars and collaborative projects that bridge disciplinary boundaries, enhancing the overall impact of humanities research across the UK. Collectively, they form a key part of the national research infrastructure, receiving dedicated funding from Research England to support researcher development, resource provision, and the dissemination of knowledge.[1][30] The Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (IALS), founded in 1947, focuses on legal research, comparative law, and the provision of resources for legal scholarship, acting as a central repository for legal materials and hosting events that advance legal methodologies.[8][31] The Institute of Classical Studies (ICS), established in 1953, specializes in ancient languages, history, and archaeology of the Mediterranean world, maintaining a renowned library and facilitating research through seminars and publications on classical civilizations.[10] The Institute of Commonwealth Studies (ICwS), founded in 1949, concentrates on post-colonial studies and global development, particularly within the Commonwealth, by coordinating research on international relations, migration, and policy challenges in former colonial contexts.[9] The Institute of English Studies (IES), created in 1999, emphasizes manuscripts, textual scholarship, and the history of the book, supporting advanced study in English literature through archival resources and interdisciplinary textual analysis.[32][11] The Institute of Historical Research (IHR), dating to 1921, centers on historical methods and seminars, serving as a vital meeting point for historians with its extensive collections and training programs in historiography.[33][34] The Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies (ILCS), established in 2021 through the merger of the Institute of Modern Languages Research (IMLR, formed 2004) and the Institute of Latin American Studies (ILAS, founded 1965), addresses translation, linguistics, cultural studies in modern languages, and Latin American and Caribbean history, culture, and politics. It promotes comparative approaches to European, global, and regional language-based scholarship, coordinating UK-wide research through events, publications, and specialized libraries.[35][36] The Institute of Philosophy (IP), established in 2005, investigates philosophical ethics, logic, and interdisciplinary applications, hosting debates and resources that connect philosophy with other humanities fields.[37][1] The Warburg Institute, established in London in 1934 (with origins in Hamburg from 1912) and a founding member of SAS since 1994, specializes in the survival and transformation of ancient and medieval traditions in art, culture, and science, with a focus on the Renaissance and its legacies. It maintains a unique library and supports research through seminars, publications, and interdisciplinary projects.[38]Administrative Framework
The School of Advanced Study (SAS) operates as a postgraduate institution within the federal structure of the University of London, comprising eight specialist research institutes and functioning as the UK's national centre for the support of humanities and social sciences research.[39] It is accountable to the University of London's Vice-Chancellor and Collegiate Council, which in turn reports to the central Board of Trustees, with its constitution defined by the University's Ordinances.[39] The SAS Academic Board serves as the primary governance body, overseeing academic strategy, quality assurance, and alignment with university-wide policies, chaired by the Vice-Chancellor and comprising representatives from SAS institutes, university leadership, and student bodies.[40] Administrative leadership is provided by the Directorate, which handles strategic direction and coordination across the School's operations, meeting monthly under the Vice-Dean's chair.[41] Support services for finance, human resources, and information technology are integrated with broader University of London provisions, including core HR policies and shared infrastructure to ensure efficient management.[42] Key internal committees include the Research & Innovation Committee, which allocates funding for research initiatives and meets quarterly under the Pro Vice-Chancellor's chairmanship, and the Academic Quality and Standards Committee, which monitors educational standards on a termly basis.[41] Operational working groups, such as the Institute Managers' Meeting and Student Administrators' Meeting, support day-to-day administrative functions and report to these committees.[41] Funding for SAS is primarily derived from Research England, which provides a special annual grant of approximately £9 million as of 2022/23—constituting 48-52% of external income since 2018-19—to support its national research facilitation role, supplemented by University of London contributions covering 50-75% of the grant's notional value and additional project-specific grants. This funding was confirmed for a further five years from 2024/25 to 2029/30.[43][13] This model emphasizes long-term sustainability, with periodic reviews by the Research England Advisory Group assessing strategic progress, cross-institute collaboration, and equality initiatives to justify continued allocation through the 2020s.[30] SAS maintains close ties with other University entities, notably through shared services with Senate House Library, which serves as its home library and the central resource for the entire University of London.[19]Leadership
Directors and Deans
The Dean of the School of Advanced Study serves as the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Public Engagement at the University of London, providing academic and strategic leadership to advance humanities research, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and enhance public engagement initiatives across the UK's national centre for advanced study.[44][45] Leadership of the School has evolved since its founding in 1994, with deans playing pivotal roles in its growth as a federation of research institutes. The following table outlines key deans and their tenures, highlighting major contributions based on verified records:| Name | Tenure | Key Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| Sir Roderick Floud | Acting Dean, 2007–2009 | Stabilized governance during transitional period following the retirement of predecessor Nicholas Mann; advanced the School's role in promoting advanced humanities research amid institutional changes at the University of London.[46][47] |
| Professor Roger Kain, CBE, FBA | 2010–2017 | Expanded the School's national remit in humanities infrastructure, including digital mapping and archival projects; secured funding to enhance research support services and interdisciplinary networks.[48][49] |
| Professor Rick Rylance | 2017–2020 | Strengthened research leadership by integrating the Institute of English Studies and promoting impact-driven humanities; retired after fostering collaborations in literary and cultural studies during a period of funding challenges.[50][51] |
| Professor Jo Fox | 2020–2025 | Led the School through the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing resilient research practices; expanded digital initiatives, including securing Research England funding for a new Digital Humanities Institute to coordinate online resources and stakeholder advisory on digital development.[52][53][13] |
| Professor Claire Gorrara | 2025–present | Appointed effective 1 September 2025, bringing expertise in research leadership and public engagement; focuses on advancing multilingualism, widening participation in humanities, and building on the School's Strategic Prospectus to 2030 for sustainable growth in arts and humanities impact.[45][14] |