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Former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalan

New award celebrates Indian students and honours former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam

The School of Social and Political Science is setting up a new annual award in the name of former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, to honour its Indian postgraduate students.

12/06/2026
pandemic
03/06/2026
Centre of African Studies

University of Edinburgh experts strengthen pandemic preparedness

A new initiative led by University of Edinburgh researchers will help the world prepare more effectively for future pandemics by addressing one of the major lessons of COVID-19 – that pandemics affect far more than healthcare systems alone.

qs

SPS subject areas climb in 2026 QS world subject rankings

Five School of Social and Political Science (SPS) subject areas have improved or maintained their standing among the world's leading universities, according to the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject — with Social Policy regaining its top 10 position.

15/04/2026
tosin
24/03/2026
Centre of African Studies

Centre of African Studies graduate wins SPS Outstanding PhD Thesis Award 2025

Dr Tosin Durodola has won the School of Social and Political Science’s annual Outstanding PhD Thesis Award for 2025.

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.

23/01/2026
Jean-Benoit Falisse

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.

11/12/2025
Photo of a city at dusk beside an aerial photo of a section of the Amazon rainforest

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. 

25/03/2025
Photo of Mohammad Amir Anwar
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).

CAS - Call for papers

2025 Centre of African Studies Annual Conference - Call for Papers

Call for papers now closed.
Theme: Climate Dynamics and the Politics of a Post-Carbon Africa.

02/07/2024
Photo taken from the back of the conference room, with people seated and looking at a projector screen

SPS conference provides latest insight on security in Africa

The School of Social and Political Science (SPS) hosted a conference that provided new insights on security in Africa, focusing on the relationships between everyday actors and state-driven violence. 

21/06/2024
CAS & CeSeR Annual Conference Poster

2024 CAS/CeSeR Annual Conference University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK April 23-24, 2024

Theme: Security in Africa: Actors, logics and futures

Registrations are now closed

22/01/2024
Woman speaking on stage at the WESAF orientation

A new doctoral programme will enhance interdisciplinary sustainability research and teaching capacity across Africa

A new collaboration between the universities of Edinburgh and Witwatersrand (South Africa) aims to support academics to complete interdisciplinary doctoral research on areas related to sustainability on the African continent.

14/09/2023