World-leading research in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business at the University of Plymouth encompasses the creative arts and practice as research (Creative Writing, Theatre and Performance, Music, Fine Art and Media Arts, Digital Design and Technology), architecture and built environment, critical humanities (English, History and Art History), education and social sciences, business and management, and law and criminology.

The faculty submitted nine Units of Assessment to the 2021 Research Excellence Framework exercise and collectively produces a wealth of internationally outstanding research and impact across all its four main schools. These include: the School of Art, Design and Architecture; Plymouth Business School; and the School of Society and Culture.

Plymouth's cross-institutional place-based research aligns with the UK government's levelling-up agenda, and UKRI and British Academy priorities. A critical mass of SHAPE - Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts for People and the Economy - researchers in collaboration with STEMM - Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine - colleagues are tackling global challenges associated with health, marine and sustainability. 

The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business is a hub for interdisciplinary, impactful research with strengths in smart cities, environmental building, coastal communities, heritage and place-making, digital and immersive technologies, arts-health research, environmental cultures, lifelong education, and global displacement.