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Economic insecurity linked with frailty in later life, study finds Older people who experience unstable finances, poor housing and fuel poverty are at increased risk of more rapid physical and mental decline as they age, a study suggests. Research following more than 15,000 people in England has found that living in precarious social or financial circumstances is a key predictor of frailty in later life. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh, Harvard Medical School and the University of Strathclyde

Economic insecurity linked with frailty in later life, study finds

Older people who experience unstable finances, poor housing and fuel poverty are at increased risk of more rapid physical and mental decline as they age, a study suggests. Research following more than 15,000 people in England has found that living in precarious social or financial circumstances is a key predictor of frailty in later life.

05/05/2026
qs
15/04/2026
Centre of African Studies

SPS subject areas climb in 2026 QS world subject rankings

Five School of Social and Political Science (SPS) subject areas have improved or maintained their standing among the world's leading universities, according to the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject — with Social Policy regaining its top 10 position.
yusuf

Social Policy PhD student wins award for outstanding contribution to the community

Social Policy PhD student Yusuf Kadarisman has won the School of Social and Political Science’s (SPS) Sue Grant Service Award 2025/26 for outstanding contribution to the community.

24/03/2026
Philip Rathgeb

Dr Philip Rathgeb’s book shortlisted for the Mackenzie Book Prize 2025-26

A book by Dr Philip Rathgeb, Senior Lecturer in Social Policy at the School of Social and Political Science, has been shortlisted for the Political Studies Association (PSA) Mackenzie Book Prize 2025-26.

06/02/2026
Loud

Call to increase funding for ‘invisible’ Deaf victim-survivors of domestic abuse

A new report warns that Deaf women experiencing domestic abuse in Scotland remain ‘effectively invisible’ due to the chronic absence of specialist services and a lack of coordinated national support. Researchers say this gap leaves deaf victim-survivors without meaningful access to safety and advocacy.

11/12/2025
equallysafe

Groundbreaking project unites young survivors and AI scientists to combat online gender-based violence

A pioneering initiative is launching today, marking the first time computer scientists, social scientists, and young survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) have collaborated directly to develop AI tools capable of detecting and mitigating online misogyny.

24/11/2025
jama

Social Policy expert co-authors report and actions aimed at reducing U.S. gun violence

Dr Nason Maani has joined another 40 international expert authors on a new report outlining how the United States could reduce gun deaths and injuries.

06/11/2025
Elke Book

New Research Handbook on Social Policy and Employment published

A new Research Handbook on Social Policy and Employment co-edited by Social Policy colleague Elke Heins has been published by Edward Elgar.

27/10/2025
channel talent

SPS sparks school students’ curiosity on the future of UK defence

The School of Social and Political Science engaged with the next generation of thinkers and leaders in an online debate for sixth-year students focused on the future of UK defence.

02/10/2025
Nason Plos

U.S. private health industry lobby group uses marketing and publicity strategies similar to Big Tobacco

A major U.S. private health industry lobby group uses marketing and publicity strategies similar to Big Tobacco and other unhealthy commodity industry groups to shape public perception of universal care policies as negative, according to research co-authored by SPS’s Dr Nason Maani.

17/07/2025
Philip Rathgeb

Dr Philip Rathgeb wins Titmuss Award for book on radical right

Dr Philip Rathgeb has received the prestigious 2025 Richard Titmuss Book Award for his work How the Radical Right Has Changed Capitalism and Welfare in Europe and the USA.

17/07/2025
Two students walking in a building, beside a sign for the 'School of Social and Political Science'

SPS subject areas among world’s top 50 and UK’s top 10 in 2025 QS rankings 

Four School of Social and Political Science (SPS) subject areas are in the top 50 in the world and top 10 in the UK, according to the latest QS World University Rankings. 

20/03/2025