School of Social and Political Science

Social Work

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About

We work with local and international partners on all our teaching programmes to make sure that our teaching reflects our commitment to social work values, ethics and social justice.

Programmes

We provide a range of educational opportunities for both intending and qualified social workers, at both undergraduate and postgraduate level (BSc, MSW, MSc by Research, PG Certificate and PhD).

Research

Through our wide-ranging portfolio of research and knowledge exchange activities, we seek to impact on both the social work policy and practice communities, locally and internationally.

People

Find out more about our team of academics, PhD students and professional services colleagues.

News

See the latest news updates from Social Work.

Contact

We are based in the Chrystal Macmillan Building on George Square at the heart of the central campus.
Social Work centenary logo

You might be interested in our anniversary

100 years of Social Work: What began as the Edinburgh School of Social Study and Training went on to take a pre-eminent part in the creation of social welfare policy and practice and social work education in Scotland, the UK and around the world

Latest news

News content

Social Policy
30/10/2024
Social Policy

SPS researchers involved in a new podcast on domestic abuse advocacy service

School of Social and Political Science (SPS) researchers are involved in a new podcast marking the anniversary of a Glasgow service that has helped thousands of domestic abuse victims over the past 20 years.

North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose Phase Two Evaluation Report
17/09/2024
Social Work

Experts back Bairns Hoose to better protect child victims in new report

The North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose, an innovative approach to supporting children and families affected by violence and abuse, has been welcomed by an independent report by Social Work researchers.
Children 1st Bairns Hoose logo
29/08/2024
Social Work

Bairns Hoose project involving SPS academics provides life-changing support to over 270 child victims and witnesses and their families in its first year

In total 169 children and 109 members of their family have received life-changing support from the internationally renowned Bairns Hoose since it opened a year ago. A team of Social Work researchers from the University of Edinburgh's School of Social and Political Science (SPS) is among partners working on the project.

Pause logo
17/07/2024
Social Work

Women who have had children removed from their care are 14 times more likely to die prematurely, a new study involving an SPS academic finds

The high number of premature deaths among women who have experienced the repeat removal of children from their care has been investigated in a recent a study involving School of Social and Political (SPS) academic Professor John Devaney.

Upcoming events

Events content

George Palattiyil Inaugural Lecture 08 October 2025
08 October 2025
17:15 - 18:30
Social Work

Inaugural lecture: Professor George Palattiyil

Through the lives of refugees, we are called to listen again: to the fragile threshold between hope and despair, and to the responsibility of those who remain sheltered from displacement.

This is a lecture that refuses despair. It asks how we — as social workers, scholars, and fellow human beings — might respond differently. And what we might learn from those who have lost so much, yet still refuse to let go of tomorrow.
Social Work logo
29 October 2025
15:30 - 17:00
Social Work

Marginalizing mothers: Child maltreatment registries in the United States and the social and economic exclusion of mothers

As part of our 2025-26 Social Work Seminar Series, this seminar examines the strengths and limitations of existing registry systems in the the United States; highlights the due process challenges they raise; considers their disproportionate impact on poor women and women of color; and suggests statutory reforms that work to safeguard children while minimizing economic consequences to families. In addition, this seminar will contrast US registry schemes with child welfare/protection policies and proposals in the the UK.
Social Work logo
06 November 2025
13:15 - 14:45
Social Work

Beyond Hoaxes: Scientific Evidence of Social Impact for the Prevention of Gender Based Violence at Universities

As part of our 2025-26 Social Work Seminar Series, we will show a way to contribute to co-creation of scientific knowledge with social impact through the SAPPHO platform as a technique. We promote the public debate of the scientific evidence identified in the literature review on the SAPPHO open-access knowledge gender platform. Posts are written on the platform to enable dialogue with citizenry worldwide, especially with different agents involved in HEIs (students, academic and non-academic staff, victims and survivors).
Social Work logo
12 November 2025
14:00 - 15:30
Social Work

Understanding the intergenerational continuation of violence: a three-generational mixed-methods longitudinal study in South Africa

As part of the 2025-26 Social Work Seminar Series, we will be presenting results of a mixed-methods three-generational cohort study in South Africa examining the underlying mechanisms for intergenerational violence continuation.