We are the UK's only gerontology department and offer distinctive face-to-face and distance-learning courses in gerontology, global ageing and social policy. We take an interdisciplinary, international approach to our research and teaching. We have a positive impact globally, influencing policy, fostering collaborations, and promoting age-inclusiveness.
We partner with organisations worldwide and have alumni in nearly 50 countries from our distance-learning and in-person graduate programmes
Overview
About the Department of Gerontology
As the only gerontology department in UK higher education, we lead the way in advancing the study and understanding of ageing. Our mission is to combine world-leading research with high-quality teaching to address the challenges and harness the opportunities brought about by population ageing.
Our interdisciplinary research uncovers critical connections between individual behaviour, socio-economic structures and policy environments in shaping experiences in later life.
We study a range of issues relevant to gerontology in different national contexts. These include caregiving, pensions, diversity and health.
Our courses
Our postgraduate degree courses address major challenges such as:
meeting long-term care needs sustainably
behaviours over the lifecourse that contribute to healthy ageing
addressing socioeconomic inequalities on a global scale
mental health and wellbeing
Our flexible MSc courses welcome students from all disciplinary backgrounds to study on campus or by distance-learning. We also run optional modules open to all Southampton undergraduates. We provide outstanding teaching and support, and we get consistently positive feedback from students.
Graduates go on to work in a variety of fields, such as academic and private-sector research, government departments, non-governmental organisations, health and social care management, social work, and medicine and allied health services.
Gerontology staff and alumni shape public understanding about ageing and later life by challenging stereotypes through empirical evidence. We share our findings in a variety of formats, including:
animated short films, virtual art galleries and videos
interactive workshops with communities
financial literacy training in schools
We turn research into real-world impact by working closely with stakeholders such as:
HelpAge International
AgeUK
the UK Office of National Statistics
World Health Organization (WHO)
International Federation on Ageing (IFA)
Dr Elisabeth Schroeder-Butterfill, right, carries out interviews as part of her research into the realities of caregiving in Indonesia.
Research expertise
Gerontology is the scientific study of ageing. Gerontologists are interested in individual-level changes as people get older, and in how societies respond to the challenges and opportunities of population ageing.
Gerontology is a highly interdisciplinary field. Our department members have backgrounds in social policy, public health, demography, psychology, sociology, geography, social anthropology, statistics and economics.
In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), 93% of our research outputs were judged world-leading or internationally excellent. The Unit of Assessment to which we contributed, Social Work and Social Policy, was 5th in the UK.
Our expertise covers a range of areas relevant to policy. Examples include:
long-term, informal and community care for older people
older people's contributions to families, societies and the economy
ethnic differences across the life course
pension protection
intergenerational relationships
dementia
mental health and wellbeing in later life
active and healthy ageing
We have advanced methodological expertise in:
quantitative analysis (including longitudinal analysis) of survey data from the UK, China, India and
Sub-Saharan Africa
spatial analysis
thematic analysis
ethnography and participant observation
documentary analysis and literature reviews
mixed methods
Our research is funded by highly competitive funders such as the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Research England.
Impact and knowledge exchange
We promote public understanding of ageing and later life by challenging stereotypes with empirical evidence.
How we’re achieving impact
By working closely with non-academic partners, our research helps to inform policies and practices in a variety of settings. These are some examples of how we’re achieving impact:
As part of an ESRC project on pensions, we’re delivering training in financial literacy to pupils at Cantell School, Southampton. We are also working with colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions to improve data collection on financial security among minority ethnic groups.
A collaboration with Compassionate Cuppa will tackle the obstacles that older adults in Southampton face in accessing mental health support.
Research on the impact of the menopause on employment among UK women was quoted in the New York Times and discussed in the House of Commons.
Research on the role of community volunteers in supporting informal carers of older people in Indonesia led to the development of a training handbook for volunteers and the delivery of training courses in Indonesia. Watch Elisabeth’s YouTube video about caregiving in Indonesia
Collaborations
We maintain active collaborations with local, national and international stakeholders.
Local collaborations
In Southampton and Hampshire we work with:
AgeUK Southampton
Southampton City Council
Hampshire County Council
Citizen’s Advice Southampton
Hansard Gallery
Cantell School
Communicare Compassionate Cuppa
Portsmouth City Council
Solent Adult Mental Health Services
National collaborations
We work with many organisations across the UK, including:
Institute for Fiscal Studies
Department for Work and Pensions
Runnymede Trust
UK Hearing Conservation Association (UKHCA)
Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID)
National Health Service (NHS)
Irish in Britain
London Irish Centre
International collaborations
Our global partners include:
World Health Organisation (WHO)
International Federation on Ageing (IFA)
HelpAge International
Asian Development Bank
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
HelpAge Kenya
Gerontological Society of America (GSA)
Presentations and keynote speeches
We are frequently invited to speak at conferences, campaign launches, symposiums and other events. This is a great way for us to communicate impact, influence policy and build networks.
Events we have spoken at include:
Global Conference on Ageing
the World Health Organization's Make Listening Safe campaign launch
a Department for Work and Pensions conference about possible futures for welfare delivery
Metropolitan Police's National Inclusion Week
Social Protection Conference, Kenya
Sector influence
We have a significant influence on the gerontology community nationally and internationally.
Our staff members publish in leading journals such as:
Ageing and Society
Journals of Gerontology, Series B
The Gerontologist
Journal of Social Policy
Social Science & Medicine
Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies
Social Policy and Administration
Our members play important roles in scientific endeavours devoted to gerontology and social policy, including:
Advisory panel member for studies on: women with dementia and pelvic organ prolapse; and on inter, intra-generational and transnational caring in ethnic minority communities
Former treasurer, British Society of Gerontology
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We have a diverse and international staff and student body. We foster a vibrant and inclusive community where varied perspectives enrich our collective learning experience.
Our Athena SWAN Bronze Award highlights our commitment to gender equality.
Gerontology is critical for understanding the challenges and opportunities of ageing societies. Our interdisciplinary research informs our world-leading teaching programmes to equip future generations of leaders.
Tutor support is essential in developing academic skills in gerontology and research methods. My role is to assist students in reaching their full potential.
