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.

Learn more

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.

Find out more

 

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.
lightbulb

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.

CMB stairwell image

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.
Image of student with sparkler

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

23/07/2021
Politics and International Relations (PIR)

SPS student recognised by fellow Mexicans for outstanding contribution to social science

School of Social and Political Science student Omar Loera has been awarded the 2021 Carlos Fuentes Award, for his outstanding academic achievements and research contributions to the social sciences during his PhD.
22/07/2021
Social Work

Senior lecturer elected to Board of the International Consortium for Social Development

Dr George Palattiyil, Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the School of Social and Political Science, has been elected as a member of the Board of the International Consortium for Social Development (ICSD).

12/07/2021
Politics and International Relations (PIR)

SPS graduate wins best PhD thesis in the field of gender and politics

Congratulations to Dr Ashlee Christoffersen, whose PhD thesis has been named the year’s best from across Europe in the field of gender and politics.

07/07/2021
Social Work

University of Edinburgh alumna to lead new East African Social Work Resource Centre

Dr Hadijah Mwenyango, an alumna of the Social Work doctoral programme at the University of Edinburgh, will lead the new East African Social Work Regional Resource Centre (RRC) based at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

Upcoming events

Events content

A global and transdisciplinary exploration of research ethics to help you think and act ethically throughout the research process.
Sociology

Radical Research Ethics

Ethical research is better quality research. This course is designed to raise your awareness of why and how you need to think and act ethically in practice throughout your research work.
A practical, enlightening, fun course to help you become an effective and productive writer.
Sociology

Creative and Productive Research Writing

Learning the necessary skills to write for research is essential but challenging.
This course is aimed at Postgraduate Researchers and Early Career Researchers within the School of Social and Political Science.
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!
28 - 29 October 2021
13:00 - 18:00
Sociology

Digital Worker Inquiry: Data, Solidarity, and Leverage

A two-day event from the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Data, Culture & Society's Digital Social Science research cluster and the Edinburgh Futures Institute.