School of Social and Political Science

SPS Peer Learning and Support

Welcome to our Peer Assisted Learning Schemes (PALS) in the School of Social and Political Science!

This is a space for students by students. Our Peer Learning and Support Schemes are committed to building a joyful and caring student community based on mutual support. Peer Learning at SPS is run by a team of over twenty trained student leaders in five different subject areas. These are:

  • Politics and International Relations (PIRPALs)
  • Social Anthropology (SocAnthPALs)
  • Social Policy (PPALs)
  • Sociology (SocPALs)
  • Sustainable Development (SDPALs)

Sessions are run alongside core courses for first year and sometimes second year students. Anyone on these courses can attend sessions, including those taking them as outside courses. Our sessions are usually held in person in different rooms around campus.

Peer Learning is supported by SPS staff, as well as the Edinburgh University Students' Association.

Why should you attend peer learning and support sessions?
  • Deepen your understanding of course content and advance your study skills by exchanging ideas, tips and questions with other students in your year and above.
  • Improve your critical thinking skills in interactive student-led discussions.  
  • Increase your confidence to ask questions and engage in academic debates. 
  • Get to know other students in your subject area in your year and above.  
  • Make learning more fun!    
How can you access peer learning and support sessions? 

All information about sessions can be found online via our SPS Peer Assisted Learning Scheme (PALS) Hub 24-25. This is a site on Learn where all students on courses targeted by PLS schemes are automatically enrolled and each peer learning and support scheme has a sub-section on the Peer Learning and Support Hub where they share content, schedule Collaborate sessions and facilitate discussion boards.

Information about sessions can be found on our social media (see also individual schemes, below):

You can also get in touch with the SPS Peer Learning and Support Coordinators (see contact details below), who can help you to access the peer learning and peer support available. 

General enquiries: sps-pals@ed.ac.uk

PIRPALS (Politics and International Relations)

Sessions for this scheme are based on the content of the core pre-honours Politics and International Relations courses PIR1a (Semester 1) and PIR1b and Political Thinkers (Semester 2).

These sessions are open to all students on the courses.

During our weekly sessions we go over lecture material from the previous week and hold speciality essay and exam sessions to go over all the content from the courses.

Join us for a chance to ask questions, meet new people and find a new way to learn and study!

Our session times for 2024-25 will be updated soon! (Weekly sessions all cover the same content so you will have a choice of which session to attend.)

SDPALS (Sustainable Development)

Sessions for this scheme for Semester 1 are based on the content of the core pre-honours Sustainable Development courses Sustainable Development 1A (Semester 1), International Development, Aid and Humanitarianism (Semester 1; essay and exam session only). For Semester 2, the courses are Sustainable Development 2A and Science, Nature and Environment.

SOCPALS (Sociology)

Sessions for this scheme are based on the content of the core pre-honours Sociology courses Sociology 1A (Semester 1) and Sociology 1B (Semester 2). They are open to all students on the courses.

SocAnthPALS (Social Anthropology)

Sessions for this scheme are based on the content of the core first-year Social Anthropology courses: Social Anthropology 1A and Social Anthropology 1B. They are open to all students on the courses.

PPALS (Social Policy)

Sessions for this scheme are based on the content of the core pre-honours Social Policy courses Social Policy and Society (Semester 1) and Politics of the Welfare State (Semester 2). They are open to all students on the courses.

Staff support for peer learning and support

SPS Peer Learning and Support Coordinators 
The SPS Peer Learning and Support Coordinators are here to provide local support for leaders. This can include questions about training, session planning, team coordination, staff support, leader wellbeing, online platforms and more.   

In 2024-25, they are:
Gülçe Baskaya gbaskaya@ed.ac.uk
Amara Doshi adoshi@ed.ac.uk

General enquiries: sps-pals@ed.ac.uk


SPS Student Experience Officer – for general enquiries and feedback
If you have any broader questions about our peer learning and support provision at SPS, or would like to provide feedback on the work of the SPS Peer Learning and Support Coordinators, get in touch with the Student Experience Officer Sue Renton.   

Sue Renton: sue.renton@ed.ac.uk   


The EUSA Peer Learning and Support Team – for general enquiries and support
The Edinburgh University Students' Association Peer Learning and Support team can help with queries about  peer learning and peer support at the University. The team provides training and development opportunities (such as the Edinburgh Award) for student leaders across the University and can share advice and answer any general questions.   

EUSA Peer Learning and Support

Current EUSA contacts:  

Peer Support:  
peersupport@eusa.ed.ac.uk  

Student support