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

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SPS researchers receive new funding from the Royal Society of Edinburgh

The Royal Society of Edinburgh has awarded funds to three new ‘exceptional’ research projects at the School of Social and Political Science.

13/08/2026

History of science experts come to Edinburgh for landmark international conference

The University of Edinburgh hosted a major international conference about the history of science, with 1,960 academics and students from across the globe coming to the city

05/08/2026

Professor Joyce Tait appointed to UK Government DSIT College of Experts

Professor Joyce Tait has joined the UK Government Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s (DSIT) new College of Experts, a network of independent specialists who will provide fast, flexible access to leading scientific and technical expertise.

16/07/2026
Students celebrating SPS Graduations in Bristo Square
07/07/2026

SPS Graduation 2026

Congratulations to the 2026 School of Social and Political Science (SPS) graduates!

Upcoming events

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General Event
02 September 2026
12:30 - 13:30
Politics and International Relations

Book Seminar: A Political History of Immigration in France

We are delighted to be hosting a hybrid event in September with Dr Angéline Escafré-Dublet from the University of Lyon on her new book, A Political History of Immigration in France: From Colonial to Global, and Back.

Understanding and combatting information threats and online harms

A CASM workshop on their tools, methods, and partnerships, working on these critical social and policy issues.

10 September 2026
14:00 - 15:00
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22 September 2026
12:00 - 14:00

LGBTQIAP+ Experiences of Expulsion: Reflections on Family, Violence, and Temporalities in the Brazilian Context

In this presentation, Jesser Ramos explores the redefinition of family among LGBTQIAP+ individuals estranged from their original families. Drawing from research in three Brazilian shelters, this talk addresses how these individuals reconstruct the notion of family within spaces of support, amidst past traumas and new communal connections.
Macho Vurnerability Seminar

Macho Vulnerability: A Global Sociology of Gendered Power and Anxiety

Men are obligated by heteropatriarchy to be macho gendered actors, but at the same time the everyday inequality of race, class, and caste hurt and limit them.

23 September 2026
14:30 - 16:00