Centre of African Studies

Understanding Africa in the contemporary world

The University of Edinburgh has an important and long historical connection with Africa, and the Centre of African Studies (CAS) is a world leading centre for the study of Africa.

Founded in 1962, CAS provides interdisciplinary undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and supervision on Africa and international development. We host a vibrant research community, committed to critical and cutting-edge theoretical and empirical approaches, placing African experiences at the centre of interdisciplinary scholarship.

We are the largest centre of African studies in Europe and regularly appear at the top of UK good university guides. We deliver a range of high-quality masters programmes on campus and online. We run prestigious PhD programmes that attract students from across the world.

About

The Centre acts as a focal point for postgraduate teaching and supervision on Africa and a hub for research programmes that span all three of the University’s colleges.

Programmes

We offer a range of taught and research postgraduate programmes in African studies. Our thriving and cosmopolitan community of graduate students study for the degrees of PhD, MSc, Diploma or Certificate.

Research

We undertake cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research across the continent. Our scholars are committed to the critical study of a diverse range of topics as well as the pursuit of inclusive, ethical and equitable partnerships.

People

Meet the whole team and find out more about areas of interest of academic colleagues.

News

See the latest news from the Centre of African Studies.

Contact

We’re based in George Square at the heart of the Central campus. A lively and vibrant hub (especially in August during the Festival Fringe).

Centre of African Studies (CAS) Newsletter

Read the latest issue of the CAS Newsletter.

You may also be interested in Critical African Studies (CrAS)

The journal publishes critical interdisciplinary research about Africa and the diaspora, covering a range of disciplines in the social sciences and humanities. CrAS was established by the Centre of African Studies in 2009 and now more than half of the editorial and advisory board are based at African universities.

Edinburgh Catalyst Fellowship

The Edinburgh Catalyst Fellowship programme is a University of Edinburgh initiative run by the Centre of African Studies. It is aimed at building stronger relationships between The University of Edinburgh and Africa-based scholars, and promoting the research of early-career academics in Africa. Meet the amazing fellows and read more about their inspiring projects.

Social Anthropology and Centre of African Studies success in REF2021

REF2021 results attest that Social Anthropology and the Centre of African Studies at the University of Edinburgh are thriving.

12/05/2022

06/05/2022

Centre of African Studies

Centre of African Studies Lecturer awarded Royal Society of Edinburgh Fellowship

Akin Iwilade, a lecturer in African Studies, has been awarded a Personal Research Fellowship from the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

11/03/2022

Centre of African Studies

New book by Dr Mohammad Amir Anwar explores digital working in Africa

Africa and International Development expert Dr Mohammad Amir Anwar has published a new book examining the job-quality implications of digital work for the lives and livelihoods of African workers. The Digital Continent: Placing Africa in Planetary Networks of Work, co-authored with Professor Mark Graham of the University of Oxford, explores digital working across the continent, from Lagos and Johannesburg to Nairobi and everywhere in between.

17/01/2022

Centre of African Studies

CAS launches new PhD scholarship - Religion and Mobility in the African City

The Centre of African Studies (CAS) has launched a new three-year PhD scholarship on Religion and Mobility in the African City, in partnership with the University of Leiden.

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School of Social and Political Science