Centre of African Studies

Understanding Africa in the contemporary world

Founded in 1962, the Centre of African Studies (CAS) is a world leading centre for the study of Africa, the largest of its kind in Europe.

We host a vibrant research community, committed to critical and cutting-edge theoretical and empirical approaches, placing African experiences at the centre of interdisciplinary scholarship. The Centre also acts as a focal point for postgraduate teaching and supervision on Africa.

About

At CAS we seek to contribute to collective efforts to centre African voices and theorising in understanding Africa and the contemporary world.

Programmes

We offer a range of taught and research postgraduate programmes in African studies. Our thriving and cosmopolitan community of graduate students study for the degrees of PhD, MSc, Diploma or Certificate.

Research

We undertake cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research across the continent. Our scholars are committed to the critical study of a diverse range of topics as well as the pursuit of inclusive, ethical and equitable partnerships.

People

Meet the whole team and find out more about areas of interest of academic colleagues.

News

The latest news from the Centre of African Studies.

Events

The latest events from the Centre of African Studies.

Contact

We’re based in George Square at the heart of the Central campus. A lively and vibrant hub (especially in August during the Festival Fringe).

Centre of African Studies (CAS) Newsletter

Read the latest issue of the CAS Newsletter.

You may also be interested in Critical African Studies (CrAS)

The journal publishes critical interdisciplinary research about Africa and the diaspora, covering a range of disciplines in the social sciences and humanities. CrAS was established by the Centre of African Studies in 2009 and now more than half of the editorial and advisory board are based at African universities.

Spotlight on African Studies Ph.D. Graduates

The Ph.D. in African Studies at the University of Edinburgh is an interdisciplinary doctoral programme and one of the leading places in Europe to study political, economic, and social developments on the continent.

CAS Seminar Series

Every year, we organise a series of bespoke seminars, with outstanding Guest Speakers and Discussants.

CAS Annual Conference

Every year, CAS hosts an annual conference that draws leading experts, scholars, and professionals from around the world.

23/01/2026

Centre of African Studies

British Academy awards Dr Maggie Dwyer Innovation Fellowship for research on technology and African citizen-state relations

Dr Maggie Dwyer has received a British Academy Innovation Fellowship to research the role of technology in shaping citizen-state relations in Africa.

11/12/2025

Centre of African Studies

SPS researcher awarded ERC Consolidator grant to study consequences of reparation programmes for war crimes and human rights violations

Dr Jean-Benoit Falisse has won a €2million grant from the European Research Council (ERC) to research the aftermath of reparation programmes for the victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and grave human rights violations.

Photo of a city at dusk beside an aerial photo of a section of the Amazon rainforest

25/03/2025

Centre of African Studies

SPS academics receive research awards from the Royal Society of Edinburgh

Two academics from the School of Social and Political Science (SPS) have received Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) Research Awards, for projects on the energy transition in Africa and ecofeminism in Brazilian Amazonia. 

25/07/2024

Centre of African Studies

SPS academic awarded UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship

School of Social and Political Science (SPS) academic Dr Mohammad Amir Anwar has received a prestigious Future Leaders Fellowship (FLF) from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

11 February 2026

16:00 - 17:30

Centre of African Studies

Horizontal Development: Shifting Power and Privilege in Aid

Accessible and comprehensive, this book puts forth an innovative perspective on international aid, going beyond top-down attempts to centre local voices and practices. By providing an overview of newer iterations and overlooked practices in development, including citizen aid, technologies for development, and faith-based humanitarianism, the book explores the extent to which they disrupt existing models and potentially lead to more equitable grassroots-led approaches.

17 February 2026

16:30 - 18:00

Centre of African Studies

Implications and inferences: rethinking responsible innovation in AI

Join us for Professor Jack Stilgoe's keynote lecture: Implications and inferences: rethinking responsible innovation in AI.
This event is being co-organised by the Planetary AI project and the Digital Economy and Research Cluster at the University of Edinburgh, with support from the UKRI and the Edinburgh Futures Institute.

25 February 2026

16:00 - 17:30

Centre of African Studies

Rethinking Environmentalism in Response to Resource Extraction in South Africa, Zambia and Nigeria

Oil spills, sinkholes, and toxic tailings shape life in the Niger Delta, the Zambian Copperbelt, and Johannesburg’s goldfields. But so do protest songs, spiritual rituals, and everyday acts of care. This talk uncovers the powerful—and deeply personal—ways communities push back against pollution in some of the world’s most extractive landscapes.

23 March 2026

11:00 - 12:30

Centre of African Studies

Book Launch: East African Queer and Trans Displacements: Local Tensions, Regional Challenges and Global Implications

Join us for the launch of East African Queer and Trans Displacements, an open-access collection edited by John Marnell, B Camminga, Barbara Bompani, and Kamau Wairuri.

School of Social and Political Science