University of Edinburgh School of Social and Political Science

The School of Social and Political Science (SSPS) at the University of Edinburgh is a unit within the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Its constituent departments (called 'subject areas' in Edinburgh) conduct research and teaching in the following disciplines:

• Politics and International relations
• Science, Technology & Innovation Studies
• Social Anthropology
• Social Policy
• Social Work
• Sociology
• Sustainable Development

In addition to these core subjects, the school includes the Europa Institute, Centre for Security Research, Innogen Institute (a collaboration with the Open University) and the Centres of African Studies, Canadian Studies and South Asian Studies.

The School is primarily based in the Chrystal Macmillan Building on George Square, named after the suffragist and first female science graduate of the university. It is one of only two buildings at the University named after a woman.

The School employs over 400 full-time and part-time academics and almost 100 professional services staff. Its current dean is Professor of Social Work John Devaney.

The School's subject areas are placed highly in globally comparative academic rankings, such as the 2024 Academic Ranking of World Universities (Political Science: no. 51-75, Sociology: no. 31), 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings (Social Sciences: no. 38), and the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject (Anthropology: no. 17, Political Science: no. 31, Social Policy: no. 13, Sociology: no. 30).