Progress towards UN SDG 1: No poverty
End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Our research
The University of Glasgow’s Centre for Public Policy has secured Robertson Trust funding for a major anti-poverty project.
The 18-month project will assess poverty in Scotland as a multi-level, multi-sector grand policy challenge, detailing the impact of siloed decision-making on people living with poverty and using an innovative policy lab approach to drive solutions.
The research will put people at the heart of understanding the cumulative and intersectional impact of policy and budget choices on those living in poverty. Core to this research is a bottom-up approach to policymaking, prioritising individuals’ lived experiences as the foundation for decisions, rather than starting with policies set by governments or institutions. By partnering with the Poverty Alliance, and informed by those with lived experience, this perspective ensures that solutions are grounded in real-world needs and insights, fostering more inclusive and responsive outcomes for society.
Outputs will include briefings, composite stories and insights to equip policymakers with both the evidence and the anti-poverty solutions.
Learning & teaching
The University is renowned for our social & public policy programmes; the teaching team was awarded the Social Policy Association/ Policy Press Outstanding Teaching Award 2020, in recognition of the excellence and innovation in teaching social policy in the UK.
Social and public policy focuses on addressing global and societal challenges such as social inequalities, technology and sustainability. The programmes employ an interdisciplinary approach encompassing ideas from political science, sociology and economics to understand and engage with how governments shape their responses to address welfare and wellbeing needs of the people they serve. Throughout the programmes there are work placement opportunities with voluntary or public sector organisations, helping to expand and deepen the knowledge and practical experience of students choosing to study one of the social and public policy programmes.
Currently the University offers 30 social & public policy programmes across a wide range of single and joint honours programmes. The degree programmes provide the analytical, literary and teamwork skills that many employers are looking for. Our graduates pursue careers as managers, professional and policy analysts in the private, voluntary and public sectors within institutions, central and local governments across the country and around the world.
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University operations
We offer a wide range of scholarships and bursaries to support students who may face financial challenges in taking up their place at our University. These include bursaries to help with commuting costs and funding for students entering specific subject areas, with opportunities available at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
In 2025–26, we invested over £1 million in scholarships and bursaries to assist those students most in need. During 2024–25, more than 300 undergraduate home and RUK students benefited from schemes such as the Undergraduate Talent Scholarship, Travel Bursary and the World Changers RUK Access Bursary.
Our Postgraduate Access Scholarships provide essential financial support for students wishing to progress to the next stage of their studies, making postgraduate education accessible to talented individuals who might otherwise be unable to pursue this opportunity. For 2026 entry, we are increasing the number of awards from 33 to 50 places, further expanding access to postgraduate study.
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In the last year, 26 community groups and charities have benefited from new grant funding launched by the University of Glasgow to support local projects doing important work in their communities.
Civic engagement
In the last year, 26 community groups and charities have benefited from new grant funding launched by the University to support local projects doing important work in their communities.
Glasgow Riverside Innovation District (GRID) Civic Grant Funds totalling more than £70,000 were allocated to projects supporting a wide range of impactful community initiatives – making a contribution to help those experiencing food poverty and social isolation, and supporting new community spaces and extracurricular activities in the Govan, Anderston and Partick areas of Glasgow.
This fund means community groups, charities and projects working within GRID can apply for grants of up to £5,000, as well as a smaller Micro Grant Fund that awards up to £850 throughout the year.
Following the success of this first round of funding, the second round of the GRID Civic Grant Fund was launched in spring 2025. In this second phase, we are supporting 21 projects so far in 2025–26, and will continue micro grant support throughout the year. This continuing support is being provided by the University of Glasgow as the anchor academic institution for GRID, which is a partnership between the University, Glasgow City Council and Scottish Enterprise.
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Find out about our progress towards the 17 SDGs:
