Sociology

Committed to the production of cultural and scientific knowledge

Sociology at the University of Edinburgh (founded in 1964 by Tom Burns) is one of the UK’s leading sociology departments, highly regarded for our record of influential original research and teaching. We've been rated as first in the UK for the quality and breadth of our research in the Research Excellence Framework 2014 (REF2014).

We have a long-standing commitment to original empirical and theoretical work on society, and on the production of cultural and scientific knowledge.

Our approach is shaped by a sociological understanding of the importance of the link between biography and history, private troubles and public issues, the micro-social worlds of individuals and wider social structures.

About

We are one of the UK's leading centres for research and teaching in Sociology. One of our major strengths is diversity, both in who we are and what we do.

Programmes

On our single and joint undergraduate degree programmes we place a strong emphasis on doing rather than just reading about sociology.

Research

Our work is at the crossroads of professional, critical, public and user-oriented policy sociology and focuses on the interweaving of individual lives, social processes and historical change.

People

Meet the Sociology team and find contact details.

News

See the latest news updates from Sociology.

Contact

We are based in the Chrystal Macmillan Building on George Square at the heart of the Central campus.

SPS honoured at CAHSS Recognition Awards 2021

Colleagues at the School of Social and Political Science have won a number of awards at the College’s Colleague Recognition Awards this afternoon, including the Adaptation to Change Award, the Excellent Newcomer Award, the Outstanding Team Award, and a highly commended in the Community Engagement Champion Award.

28/05/2021

SPS staff recognised for outstanding teaching at the EUSA Teaching Awards 2021

Edinburgh University Students' Association announced the winners of its 2021 Teaching Awards yesterday, with colleagues at the School of Social and Political Science (SPS) picking up awards for Teacher of the Year and Outstanding Course, for the course Race and Ethnicity.

13/05/2021

Experts highlight need for devolved climate plan

The Scottish Government must work more effectively with regional and local authorities if it is to meet its climate change targets, research suggests.

18/02/2021

New UK Gov funding for SPS researchers to take on global sustainable development challenges

Experts at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Social and Political Science (SPS) have received a slice of a new £147million investment package from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) for various projects.

24/11/2020