School of Social and Political Science

School of Social and Political Science

For as long as we have society, we'll need social scientists.

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Study with us

Across all our programmes, students are encouraged to question the social, political and technological systems and structures that surround us.

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Research

Our researchers are tackling some of the biggest issues facing society today, aiming to understand a world that’s changing more rapidly than ever.

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Subject areas

Our subject areas are the heartbeat of our School, with communities of staff and students working together across the social sciences to explore, challenge and identify how to create better societies.
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Students

Whether you’re a current student or you want to join us, you’ll find all the information you need about studying, academic life, and all our support and services here.

Latest news

News content

ISA kate wright award
05/03/2026

Professor Kate Wright and colleagues win International Studies Association Award for Best Book

Professor Kate Wright and her co-authors have won the Award for Best Book in International Communications, given by the International Studies Association. This follows a previous award and runner-up prizes for their book Capturing News, Capturing Democracy: Trump and Voice of America.

Tam-Dalyell-Prize-Lecture
26/02/2026
Politics and International Relations

Professor Ailsa Henderson wins prestigious Tam Dalyell Prize for public engagement

Professor Ailsa Henderson has won the University of Edinburgh’s Tam Dalyell Prize for Excellence in Engaging the Public with Science.
Philip Rathgeb
06/02/2026
Social Policy

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.
Centre of African Studies
23/01/2026
Centre of African Studies

British Academy awards Dr Maggie Dwyer Innovation Fellowship for research on technology and African citizen-state relations

Dr Maggie Dwyer has received a British Academy Innovation Fellowship to research the role of technology in shaping citizen-state relations in Africa.

Upcoming events

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image poster
06 March 2026
15:00 - 17:00
Social Anthropology

Making unfreedom material: Prison construction and the expedience of mass incarceration in Brazil

Controversies
06 March 2026
15:10 - 17:30
Science, Technology and Innovation Studies

Scams, bubbles and the financial technologies of data societies

This session will include a presentation by Professor Liz McFall and a presentation by Dr Lana Swartz.
General Event
09 March 2026
13:00 - 14:00

Diverging Paths: The Onset of Gender-and-Class Differentiated Family Labour in Young Adolescence

All Q-Step seminars are on Mondays at 1-2pm in the Violet Laidlaw Room, Chrystal Macmillan Building. They are open to all students and staff. Events are free. No booking is required.

£3 trillion
09 March 2026
17:00 - 18:30
Politics and International Relations

£3 trillion later

Join us for an In Conversation With event, with guest Sir Robert Stheeman, former CEO of the UK Debt Management Office