School of Social and Political Science

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Studying at SPS

At the School of Social and Political Science, we give our students the platform to understand the world and be part of influencing positive change. 

Across all our programmes of undergraduate and postgraduate study, students are encouraged to question the social, political and technological systems and structures that surround us. 

Our teaching staff are some of the world’s leading experts in their fields. They bring their research into the classroom, so students’ education benefits from the latest findings. And they are dedicated to supporting the next generation of professionals and academics, to continue their work in exploring social and political life. 

Learn more here about our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across all our subject areas.

Proposed new courses

New MSc programme - Heritage, Data, Futures
The Edinburgh Futures Institute would like to hear your views on a potential new postgrduate programme, MSc Heritate, Data, Futures.

Please let us know what you think through this short survey.
 

New CPD/short courses in Data Science in Health, Care and Social Services
We would like to hear your views on potential new CPD/short courses in Data Science in Health, Care and Social Services.

Take our short survey.

Programmes

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Programmes

Undergraduate degree programmes

Undergraduate degree programmes

We offer a range of undergraduate programmes across our subject areas. Choose from single or joint honours with options to suit your ambitions.
Postgraduate taught programmes

Postgraduate taught programmes

Our taught postgraduate programmes enhance graduates and professionals’ knowledge and career options, equipping you to tackle some of the greatest modern challenges.
Postgraduate research programmes

Postgraduate research programmes

Join our academic community and carry out independent research with one of our PhD programmes, or prepare for doctoral study with our MSc by Research degrees.

Subject areas

Subject area content

Centre of African Studies banner

Centre of African Studies

The University of Edinburgh has an important and long historical connection with Africa, and the Centre of African Studies (CAS) is one of the world’s leading centres for the study of Africa.
Politics and International Relations

Politics and International Relations (PIR)

We produce influential research that directly informs policymakers, ministers and NGOs in several key areas, including constitutional change, human rights, data privacy, public policy and electoral reform.
Science, Technology and Innovation Studies banner

Science, Technology and Innovation Studies

Our department has an international reputation as a leading centre of excellence in science and technology studies, established through the legacies of the Science Studies Unit and the Research Centre for Social Sciences.
Social Anthropology banner

Social Anthropology

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

Social Policy

We're a group of teachers and researchers concerned with all the things people and societies do, and don't do, to look after each other; in Scotland, across the UK and Europe, and around the world.
Social Work banner

Social Work

One of the oldest social work departments in the UK, Social Work at the University of Edinburgh has been ranked the UK's number one for the third year in a row in the Complete University Guide 2021 league table.
Sociology banner

Sociology

The Sociology department 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.