Social Work

Our faculty are experts in their fields, and they are passionate about helping students conduct high-quality research that makes a difference in the world. We offer a vibrant, supportive environment for postgraduate researchers.

Find out more about our research degrees and PhD subjects.

Our research tackles societal problems and seeks to improve life for marginalised and excluded groups. Our success is based on collaborating with key organisations, government, the police, universities and voluntary sector organisations.

Research highlights

• We are a UK leader in ageing and dementia with international collaborations in Japan, India  and countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Our research delivers wider social impacts in building design and social care services. 
• Our research focuses on looked after children and social care in the context of family violence.
• We are exploring ways of supporting people who have intersecting mental health, substance use, homelessness and physical health challenges.
• We contribute to advancing policy and practice to address the extreme social problem of drugs deaths in Scotland. 
• Our research on adult support and protection has developed new models of understanding risk and protecting human rights.
• Our research in child protection has informed practice on working with families, and using child translators, respectively.
• We are also working in penal policy and people-trafficking.