Artworks, literary and philosophical texts, media technologies and social and political practices are at the heart of research. Researchers in this area are united by a shared concept: the idea that the humanities are the place in which human society examines and gains awareness of itself. One important profile area comprises critical and cultural studies related to the Baltic Sea region and Eastern Europe, thanks to close cooperation with the Centre for Baltic and East European Studies (CBEES) at Södertörn University.

Seven subjects currently have degree-awarding powers at doctoral level in this area: The Theory of Practical Knowledge, Aesthetics, Philosophy, Gender Studies, Art History, Comparative Literature and Media and Communication Studies.

Many current research projects at the university are associated with the area of Critical and Cultural Theory.