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Research at DMU

Real world impact

At DMU, we have an ambitious Research Strategy which aims to make research central to our mission as a university. We believe that a diverse range of researchers produces the best research and our commitment to research is integral to our aim to develop our students as critical thinkers. 

As a university committed to the public good, we have a track record of research that impacts society and makes a real difference to people’s lives through improvements to health and well-being, infrastructure, creativity, economic growth, business and civil society. 

Global Sustainable Development 

DMU is the lead university for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities and was appointed in 2025 for a three-year term.

The university works with the U.N. as the chair of SDG 11 with three other universities, who lead as vice-chairs on teaching and education; outreach and partnership; and research.

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Research Degrees

Join our community of individual thinkers who are re-writing the rules. Engage with our Doctoral College where research students are nurtured and recognised by scholars and research leaders.

Find your research community
Professor Mike Kagioglou, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Business Innovation
Our ambitious strategy is already reaping rewards. More than 60 per cent of research at DMU has been judged as world-leading or internationally excellent in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF).
Professor Mike Kagioglou, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Business Innovation
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Research Themes

DMU’s research themes have dominated our activity over the last three years and reflect our commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Explore our themes
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Research Strategy

We believe that a diverse range of researchers produces the best research. Societal impact will be central to our research agenda and we will strive to ensure that our research addresses key challenges.

Explore our themes

Research and Innovation Institutes

These inter and cross-disciplinary, university-wide Research and Innovation Institutes are our beacons of excellence for the work that we do across research, enterprise and business innovation at De Montfort University.

Digital Future Institute

We deliver pioneering research in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, digital and creative technologies, ethical and responsible research, media and culture, sonic creativity and innovation.

Institute for Responsible Business and Social Justice

We bring together the leading international research strengths and researchers across Leicester Castle Business School in the Faculty of Business and Law.

Institute for Sustainable Futures

We bring together expertise from a broad range of disciplines designed to address key aspects of sustainability and effective communicationstrategies.

Institute of Arts, Design and Performance

We bring together research and innovation across architecture, art and design, fashion and textiles, dance, drama and performance studies, creative writing, photographic history, cinema and television history, and music technology and sonic arts.

Institute of Global Challenges and Cultures

The IGCC engages in research, impact, innovation, and knowledge exchange projects in History, English Literature and Language, Creative Writing, Media, Politics and International Relations and Material, Textual and Visual Cultures.

Leicester Institute for Pharmaceutical and Health Innovations

Our research is focussed on multidisciplinary approaches, ‘from molecules to practice’, to the study of medicines and healthcare products and services.

Social Sciences Research and Innovation Institute

We are dedicated to producing novel, world-leading social science research which is socially empowering and theoretically rigorous.

Find a researcher

Staff listing

Research in the spotlight