Dr. Richard Breen

Professor

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Biography

Richard Breen is a Professor of Sociology and a Fellow at Nuffield College, where he focuses on issues surrounding social inequality, mobility, and quantitative methods. He has a storied academic career, having served as the William Graham Sumner Professor of Sociology at Yale University from 2007 to 2015, and prior to that, he was an Official Fellow at Nuffield College from 2001 to 2006. He also held a professorship in Sociology at the European University Institute from 1997 to 2001 and worked at Queen's University, Belfast from 1991 to 1997. Breen is recognized as a Fellow of the British Academy, and a member of both the Royal Irish Academy and Academia Europaea. His research interests emphasize social inequality, social stratification, and the application of quantitative methods in sociological research. In his role as a supervisor, he has guided doctoral and master's students in their research on inequality and intergenerational mobility, with a particular focus on the relationship between demography and inequality through quantitative methodologies.

Research Interests

Experience

Professor of Sociology

2001-01-01 — Present

Nuffield College • Oxford

Teaching and researching social inequality and mobility.

William Graham Sumner Professor of Sociology

2007-01-01 — 2015-01-01

Yale University • New Haven

Focused on sociological methodologies and inequalities.

Professor of Sociology

1997-01-01 — 2001-01-01

European University Institute • Florence

Conducted research on social stratification.

Requirements for University of Oxford

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.7
IELTS
Listening
Required:7
Reading
Required:7
Writing
Required:7
Speaking
Required:7
Overall
Required:7.5
TOEFL
Listening
Required:22
Reading
Required:24
Writing
Required:24
Speaking
Required:25
Total
Required:110
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Politics, International Relations, Economics, History, Law, Philosophy or Sociology
Application Checklist
  • Three academic references
  • Official transcripts
  • CV/Resume
  • Statement of Purpose (1,000 words)
  • Two academic essays (2,000 words each)
Specialization Notes

Department of Politics and International Relations - Higher Level English requirement.