Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology

The Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology at Arden University is passionate about enriching the lives of others.

About the school

Education is central to our mission. We offer learning opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds and locations. Our goal is to unite individuals, empower them to contribute to their communities, and help shape the future of society and the natural world. The faculty is actively engaged with global communities and conducts various applied research and interdisciplinary activities to enhance our students' experiences and prepare them for the workforce. We provide dedicated and personalised support to all students, ensuring they thrive and succeed in their future endeavours.

Arden in numbers

95%

student satisfaction

95% of our graduates said they were satisfied with the Arden University learning experience.

90%

of careers transformed

90% of Arden graduates say their career possibilities have been enhanced by studying with us.*

global study locations

Study from anywhere online, on campus in Berlin, or at one of our five UK study centres, including three locations in London.

9/10

Alumni are proud to be Arden graduates

In recognition of our continued commitment to our students, we were named number one education business in the 2020 Education Investor Awards.

Faculty staff

Professor John Parkinson, PhD, PGDip, FHEA

A future-facing faculty preparing graduates for an AI-enabled world

Hello, I’m Professor John Parkinson, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences & Technology (FoSST) at Arden University. I joined Arden after twenty-five years of research, teaching, and leadership in UK higher education. Throughout my career, I have been driven by a passion for understanding human behaviour and creating learning environments that help people thrive.

My academic career has centred on behavioural science, human motivation, applied research, and public policy. Beyond academia, I am a qualified counsellor and a strong advocate for student-centred, future-focused education. These experiences have shown me how quickly society shifts — and how vital it is that education keeps pace. At Arden, we are committed to ensuring that every student encounters an AI-infused curriculum, develops the literacies needed to thrive in data-rich workplaces, and learns to apply
technology ethically and insightfully to real-world challenges.

Throughout the Faculty, we have a deep commitment to applied, interdisciplinary learning, preparing students for the complexities of an evolving world. Across psychology, computing and data science, criminology, law, and the social sciences, our faculty brings together disciplines that are all being reshaped by artificial intelligence and rapid technological change. With the university’s new investment and strategic focus on digital transformation, our mission is clear: to prepare graduates who can harness the power of AI responsibly, creatively, and confidently.

We champion interdisciplinary thinking because the future will demand nothing less. Whatever programme you study, you will experience learning that is flexible, applied, technology-enabled, and grounded in strong academic foundations. Our goal is to not only help you succeed academically, but to ensure you graduate ready for the emerging AI-augmented professions of the future — resilient, skilled, and able to make a positive impact on society.

Welcome to the Faculty of Social Sciences & Technology. I look forward to supporting you as we build this ambitious, future-ready community together.

Professor John Parkinson, PhD, PGDip, FHEA

Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences & Technology

Dr. Mohammed Rehman

Head of School - STEM

Dr. Emma Winlow

Head of School - Criminology, Criminal Justice and Law

Professor Caroline Bowman

Head of School - Psychology

Subject areas

Computing and IT

Psychology

Law

Criminology

Investigation, Security and Defence

Student Stories

Studying at Arden University has been great because I have now got that balance to run my family, work part time, and also study online. So it’s been really fulfilling that I can do a degree while looking after my family.

Psychology is throughout every single career you could possibly want to achieve.

Don't listen to those who tell you can't do things, just get your head down and get it done.

The course offered me everything, the skill sets and base knowledge that I need to progress on.

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Accrediting bodies and industry partners

The British Psychological Society (BPS)

The single-subject psychology degree courses at the School of Psychology are accredited by The British Psychological Society, the representative body for professional psychologists in the UK.

The Association for Business Psychology (ABP)

The Association for Business Psychology (ABP) works to provide information, training, and support for those interested in business psychology, to promote professional excellence, and to demonstrate the effective application and impact of business psychology in the workplace.