About our research

The School of Social and Political Sciences conducts research of the highest quality, focusing on international, national and local issues to inform public debate and contribute to the development of public policy. We achieve this through integrating our range of social science expertise, and building collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to research and knowledge exchange to deepen thematic interdisciplinary approaches.

We have a thriving research community bringing together both academic staff and research students working on a range of research programmes and agendas. Research in the School is assessed in the Research Excellence Framework under four units: Architecture, Built Environment and Planning; History, Politics and International Studies and Social Work and Social Policy.

For REF2021 90% or more of our research has been assessed as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ in terms of its originality, significance and rigour.

We conduct research that develops theoretical, conceptual and methodological insights to advance our core social science disciplines, and more interdisciplinary, team-based research which addresses major social and political challenges, often working with research partners to develop key interventions to change policy or practice. Our work spans local, place-based research and engagement, working with partners in the city and region as well as working with the Scottish and UK governments and further afield, with international partners and multinational agencies across the globe.

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Inequalities, including Disability, Ethnicity and Race, Gender, Class and Migration

The School hosts a number of centres, networks and projects dedicated to understanding and addressing inequalities, including the Centre for Disability Research and the Centre for Research on Racism Ethnicity and Nationalism.

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Media, Communications and Digital Society

Glasgow University has long been associated with the study of media and communications, through the Glasgow University Media Group first established in 1974.

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Urban Futures

We are a world leading centre for urban research, our research covers all aspects of the social, economic and physical challenges faced by cities, including work on communities, governance, health, housing, inequalities, planning, transport and real estate.

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Human Rights, Democracy and Global Governance

We have established expertise on human rights, democratic processes and global governance. Much of this work seeks to bring together civil society, local authorities, the private sector, governments and communities and explore these issues through a collaborative approach.

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Crime and Criminal Justice

The School houses the Scottish Centre for Crime and Criminal Justice Research, a world leading centre that seeks to advance our understanding of crime and criminal justice through theoretical, empirical and applied research. 

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Health & Wellbeing

Research under this theme brings together social scientists whose work is directly relevant to health and wellbeing.