School of Social and Political Science

School of Social and Political Science

The connections that bind society together are under increasing strain as the planet deals with new challenges. What impact is Covid having on our relationships? What’s the long-term impact to society? Learn how we’re working to understand the effect of a changing world on its people and structures.

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Welcome to SPS!

Our Welcome Week pages have all the information new students need to get started at the School of Social and Political Science.

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Study with us

At the School of Social and Political Science, students are encouraged to question the social, political and technological systems and structures that surround us. Learn more about our programmes of undergraduate and postgraduate study, and how we’ll give you the platform to understand the world and be part of positive change.

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Message from the Head of School

The School of Social and Political Science is working hard to address the challenges for our learning and teaching activities and research in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. Covid-19 has generated challenges for individuals, societies across the world, and for work and wellbeing. Recognising the everyday realities of physical distancing, our teaching will be accessible, adapted and updated due to the ongoing impact of Covid-19...

Latest SPS responses to Covid 19

Our researchers adapted rapidly to the Covid-19 pandemic, turning their attentions swiftly to addressing one of the major challenges of our times. As well as launching new research covering the range of social sciences, they've been offering expert insight into its impact on society.
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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

Person on laptop in coffee shop
17/09/2021
Science, Technology and Innovation Studies

Police and government use online ‘influence’ tactics to tackle crime and shape behaviour in the UK

New research has found that advertising and influencing techniques often used by marketers and advertisers to encourage audiences to buy products are being used by law enforcement and government agencies in the UK for crime prevention.
Woman wearing a face mask
25/08/2021
Politics and International Relations (PIR)

Asia experts urge better post-Covid labour deal

Politicians in South Asia should act swiftly to better protect labour rights during the Covid-19 pandemic, Edinburgh research suggests.
23/08/2021
Social Work

New self-care curriculum will enhance wellbeing and learning for social work students

Lecturers at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Social and Political Science are co-creating a self-care curriculum for social work education, to help combat stress and burnout.
20/08/2021
Social Anthropology

News from Edinburgh’s Medicine Anthropology Journal

The team at the Medicine Anthropology Theory (MAT) journal, based at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Social and Political Science (SPS), share their latest updates, including new issues, details of the MAT editorial team and becoming indexed in the Directory of Open Access Journals.

Upcoming events

Events content

The Metro Conference - Quantifying the world
22 - 23 September 2021
14:00 - 18:30
Social Policy

Quantifying the world - The METRO conference

How do numbers shape the world? Join us to find out!
Cinemas of the Mozambican Revolution
CAS Seminar Series - Cinemas of the Mozambican Revolution: Anti-colonialism, Independence & Internationalism in Filmmaking, 1968-1991
Centre of African Studies

Cinemas of the Mozambican Revolution: Anti-colonialism, Independence & Internationalism in Filmmaking, 1968-1991

I't's up to you, me and all of us.
23 September 2021
16:30 - 17:45
Politics and International Relations (PIR)

“It’s up to you, me – all of us!” Children in climate citizens’ assemblies

Involving children in climate citizens’ assemblies: reflections from Children’s Parliament’s participation in Scotland’s Climate Assembly.
24 September 2021
15:00 - 17:00
Social Anthropology

Social Anthropology Seminar: To See a Moose: The History of Polish Sex Education (Berghahn Books, 2021)

Book talk: To See a Moose: The History of Polish Sex Education (Berghahn Books, 2021)