Neil Harrison

Neil Harrison is a senior researcher and deputy director of the Rees Centre. Neil’s primary area of research interest is around access to higher education, especially for groups of people who are disadvantaged or marginalised in society. This includes topics such as financial support, outreach programmes, alternative qualification routes and the factors underpinning student success. He has also researched around the engagement of students in internationalised universities and the concept of global citizenship, as well as having an interest in epistemology and ‘expertise’. Neil has recently led commissioned projects for the Office for Students (formerly the Office for Fair Access) and the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers.

Originally trained as an applied statistician, Neil now uses a mixed methods and interdisciplinary approach drawing on concepts and methodologies from sociology, psychology, economics and social policy.

He is an executive editor for Teaching in Higher Education journal, an elected member of the governing council for the Society for Research into Higher Education and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.