Social Anthropology

Societies and cultures in a changing world

Social Anthropology is a dynamic, growing and engaged collective of scholars asking urgent anthropological questions about key challenges facing us in the contemporary world.

We bring our research expertise to questions ranging from energy transitions to bodily remains; food security to media censorship; human-animal relations to the meaning of sacrifice; and forced displacement to reproductive justice.

We're ranked in Europe’s top five universities for anthropology (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022)

A group of people smile at the camera with Edinburgh castle in the background.

About

We are among the largest departments in the UK and our research interests are correspondingly diverse.

Programmes

Our teaching is research-led and international in its orientation. Our research is opening up the discipline into new and urgent terrains.

Research

We have an active and inclusive research environment in which collaborative research practices and individual research trajectories thrive.

People

Find out more about the whole team: the academic staff and their research interests, PhD students and their thesis subjects, and the professional services colleagues who keep it all in working order.

News

The latest news from Social Anthropology.

Events

The latest events from Social Anthropology.

Contact

You can find us in the Chrystal Macmillan Building in George Square - right at the heart of the central campus.

The Social Anthropology Society

The Social Anthropology Society looks to combine academic and social events to bring people together and make a lovely, welcoming community for those interested in anthropology!

The Edinburgh Anthropology Showcase

Read our newsletter that highlights recent research from staff and students in the subject area of social anthropology.

Edinburgh Centre for Medical Anthropology (EdCMA)

EdCMA is a world leading academic unit dedicated to the anthropological study of the body, health, and medicine.

Introduction to Social Anthropology school talks

Edinburgh Social Anthropology staff would be delighted to travel to state secondary schools in Scotland to give a lecture explaining what Social Anthropology is and what it’s like to study it at university.

ERC funding for study on private detectives

Professor Toby Kelly has received funding from the European Research Council for a project exploring the social, cultural and ethical dimensions of private detective work

19/08/2026

13/08/2026

Science, Technology and Innovation Studies

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.

Former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalan

12/06/2026

Centre of African Studies

New award celebrates Indian students and honours former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam

The School of Social and Political Science is setting up a new annual award in the name of former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, to honour its Indian postgraduate students.

SPS subject areas climb in 2026 QS world subject rankings

Five School of Social and Political Science (SPS) subject areas have improved or maintained their standing among the world's leading universities, according to the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject — with Social Policy regaining its top 10 position.

15/04/2026

Digital Exiles: Digital Exiles Refugee Work in the Global Digital Economy (BOOK LAUNCH)

04 November 2026

15:00 - 17:00

In the Shadow of Maria: The Memories of Black Women Trees in the Caatinga Biome

06 November 2026

15:00 - 16:30

12 - 18 November 2026

09:30 - 18:00

Social Anthropology

Colloquium on Ethnographic Filmmaking

Organized by the Creative Methods Cluster in Social Anthropology, these events are open to all staff, students, and others interested in creative ethnography, multimodal methods, public anthropology, and nonfiction film.

13 November 2026

15:00 - 16:30

Social Anthropology

School of Social and Political Science