university of edinburgh social policy phd

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Degree Programme Table: Social Policy (PhD) (Full-time) (PRPHDSOCPL1F)

Year 1 academic year: 2023/24, starting in: september.

There are no compulsory courses in this year of this programme.

• Schools & departments

Politics PhD

Awards: PhD

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Politics

Postgraduate Virtual Open Days

Join us online on 12 to 14 November where you can learn more about postgraduate study through webinars, live panel sessions, and one-to-one chat.

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Research profile

The Politics and International Relations (PIR) department has an international reputation for research, with its academic staff having won numerous teaching, research and advising awards. PIR staff scholarship covers a diverse range of research areas on Scotland, Europe, and the world, and is published in highly-rated journals and books. 

The department has a strong tradition of advising, informing and debating policy with key decision-makers at Scottish, UK, European and international levels, and has a notable concentration of political theorists.    Research in Politics and International Relations explores the theory, practice, and ethics of politics and governance. 

We cover a broad area of expertise, from local politics and policy to global governance, political theory to empirical studies, constructivism to rational choice approaches. Our staff also use a wide range of methods to gather and analyse data for a better understanding of various topics.

Interdisciplinary research focus

Our Politics & International Relations group has close links with cross-disciplinary and internationally recognised research centres. 

Major focuses of research include: 

• sub-state and supranational dimensions of politics and public policy 
• British and territorial politics and the impact of devolution in the UK and elsewhere
• the constitution and governance of the European Union 
• changing relations
• the new security agenda
• transatlantic relations
• political economy
• migration politics
• feminist foreign policymaking
• global governance 
• nationalism, democratic transition, civil society, and institution-building 
• health, welfare, environment, competition, migrations and citizenship, and equal opportunities policies 
• political theory, especially war ethics, environmental ethics, and theories of freedom 
• conflict, peacebuilding, and security
• feminist approaches to institutionalism, political economy, policymaking and political theory
• women’s movements
• gender-based violence
• intersectionality

Our intellectual community

PhD research in Politics and International Relations at Edinburgh is located in the School of Social and Political Science. The School benefits from the broader University of Edinburgh community of world-class researchers. A flourishing programme of events, seminars, and research groups complements our postgraduate courses and doctoral supervision.

We have a large, vibrant, diverse, and international community of postgraduate students. We direct active research institutes, including:

• Europa Institute
• Centre on Constitutional Change
• Centre for Science, Knowledge and Policy (SKAPE)
• Centre for Security Research (CeSeR)
• Centre for Ethics and Critical Thought (CRITIQUE)

Politics and International Relations postgraduate researchers significantly contribute to our academic community, productivity and acclaim. Our PhD students are involved in a range of initiatives within the University and beyond, including government and non-profit programmes.

Past and current cohorts of postgraduates have actively sought to publish their innovative research, drawn from their PhD studies, related work, and collaborative work with other academics and organisations. Our PhD students also attend workshops and conferences at universities and other events.

Our dedication to students

We are deeply committed to our students at all levels and offer individualised supervision, mentoring, and support at all stages of the doctoral programme. We warmly welcome postgraduate students to participate in our research, our working groups and centres and in the daily life of the department.

Programme structure

This programme will involve three to four years of full-time research.

You will follow an individual training programme designed with your supervisor and Postgraduate Adviser. Your programme is reviewed and updated on an annual basis. 

In the first year, you will acquire a wide range of research skills and formulate your research question and related design under the guidance of your supervisor(s).

At the end of the programme, you will submit a thesis and will be assessed in an oral examination, or 'viva voce', by two examiners, where one is usually internal to the University and the other is external.

Your thesis is a long piece of research on a topic of your particular interest, and should make an original contribution to the field of politics and international relations.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Training and support

The programme equips you with professional training to a high standard.

You will follow a programme of research training, drawn from both:

• the School of Social and Political Science's MSc by Research courses
• Politics and International Relations-specific training courses 

Postgraduate researchers also have access to the University and College-wide programme of training in transferable skills and other aspects of professional development, including specialist careers advice.

The School of Social and Political Science provides research training courses recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). You can participate in core, intermediate and advanced research training courses tailored to the needs of your project. We may also encourage you to attend courses in other schools across the University or at other institutions, if this benefits your project or professional development.

The University’s Institute for Academic Development provides a range of courses and events to assist with methodological training and career development.

• Institute for Academic Development

As a PhD student at the School of Social and Political Science, you will have full access to a number of dedicated facilities in the Chrystal Macmillan Building, such as desk areas for quiet and collaborative study.   You will also have access to the University’s outstanding research libraries and archive facilities, including the Main Library, one of the largest academic libraries in the world with more than 2,300 study spaces.

Other research facilities in the city centre include the National Library of Scotland and the Scottish Records Office.

Proximity to the Scottish Parliament and other institutions of national government provides further research opportunities.

Career opportunities

Politics and International Relations helps you gain a range of transferable skills above and beyond those required by your specific projects, such as: 

• organising seminars and conferences 
• learning how to apply for research jobs in and out of academia 
• learning how to deliver professional seminar presentations  
• learning how to build professional networks

After graduating you can expect to be a strong candidate for careers in a wide variety of contexts, including:

• private sector organisations
• public services

Entry requirements

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent, and a UK masters degree with an overall mark of 65% or its international equivalent.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country
• English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced ( CAE ) / C2 Proficiency ( CPE ): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE : ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT : 8 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS , TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE , in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

Fees and costs

Application fee.

This programme requires a non-refundable application fee.

Your application will not be processed until we have received your application fee.

• Application fee information

Living costs

You will be responsible for covering living costs for the duration of your studies.

Tuition fees

Scholarships and funding.

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

• taking out a loan
• family support
• personal savings
• income from work
• employer sponsorship
• scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Featured funding

School of Social and Political Science Scholarships

UK Research Council Awards

For specialised guidance on submitting a competitive scholarship application, please follow the requirements and recommendations and how to contact relevant academic staff as advised here:

• Important information and recommendations

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding

Further information

• Postgraduate Admissions Team
• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4086
• Contact: [email protected]
• Programme Advisor, Dr Sarah Liu
• Contact: [email protected]
• Graduate School of Social & Political Science
• Chrystal Macmillan Building
• 15A George Square
• Central Campus
• Programme: Politics
• School: Social & Political Science
• College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.

PhD Politics - 3 Years (Full-time)

Phd politics - 6 years (part-time), application deadlines.

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

• How to apply

You must submit two references with your application.

You must submit a research proposal demonstrating your knowledge of your field of research, which will be closely scrutinised as part of the decision-making process. We request that PhD research proposals are no more than four A4 typed pages in Times New Roman, 12pt font. This includes charts and figures but does not include references or a bibliography.

We require PhD applicants in particular to contact potential supervisors before applying to discuss their research proposal so we can ensure there is adequate supervision.

A non-refundable application fee of £50 must be paid after you submit your application. Your application will not be processed until we have received your application fee.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

School of Social and Political Science

Banner subject area content.

Social Policy

Programme subject area content

Our programmes, our programmes content, our approach to teaching.

We are ranked in Europe’s top four and the world’s top 10 universities for Social Policy in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022.

Social Policy has been taught at the University of Edinburgh since 1918 and now, more than 100 years later, we’re still providing the highest-quality education to new generations of social policy students.

We practice research-led teaching . This means that our courses and lectures are oriented around our research expertise. The span of that expertise - from labour markets to global health policy, from family policy to civic engagement, from the impact of right-wing populist parties on social policy to education and skills policy - allows us to offer a broad and comprehensive curriculum .

In addition to ensuring our students develop substantive and critical knowledge of major policy and governance issues, we are equally committed to ensuring our students develop the analytical and research skills needed to work effectively and creatively in the world of policy. We are deeply involved with the School's Research Training Centre and the University's Q-Step Centre , which trains students in quantitative research skills.

Our curriculum is designed to give students the opportunity to write in a variety of styles - from academic essays to reflective portfolios, from policy briefs to blogs - and we actively encourage and support our students to undertake their own research in their dissertation projects. From statistics to the archives, from focus groups and interviews to discourse analysis, from ethnographies to the analysis of visual material such as photographs and films, we embrace a variety of methods and approaches and encourage our students to do likewise.

We have close relationships with governments at all levels - from local government here in Edinburgh to international organisations such as the World Health Organization and the European Union - as well as with numerous charities, agencies, NGOs, and think tanks. These networks and relationships help to inform our teaching, ensuring it maintains an emphasis on both the theory and the practice of policy .

We offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes leading to undergraduate MA (Hons) degrees and MSc and PhD degrees at postgraduate level.

Undergraduate programmes

Our Social Policy  undergraduate programme is taken jointly with other subjects and is ideal for students who want to study social policy alongside another academic subject such as politics, sociology, economics, or law.

Our Government, Policy and Society  programme is ideal for students who want to focus on aspects of the policy process and government decision-making as well as the content of social policy.

Students can take either our  Social Policy  or  Government, Policy and Society  degree  with Quantitative Methods  with the University's Q-Step Centre .

Further information on each programme can be found via the links below.

Taught postgraduate programmes

Our taught Masters programmes cover a range of issues and topics in  Public Policy , with specialisms in either  Comparative Public Policy  or  Global Health Policy .

We also offer a programme in Social Research , which provides students with the intellectual and applied skills to conduct social research that aims to solve complex policy and governance problems. 

Research postgraduate programmes

We offer postgraduate research degrees at the Masters level as well as running PhD programmes in both  Social Policy  and  Global Health Policy .

Undergraduate programmes links to content

Government, Policy and Society

If you often wonder why governments take particular decisions and how those decisions affect the lives of people, then Government, Policy and Society (GPS) is the perfect degree for you.

Government, Policy and Society with Quantitative Methods

This programme is designed for those interested in the content of social policy, the process by which policy is made and its impact on society.

Social Policy and Economics

This popular joint degree programme provides a grounding in both social policy and economics.

Social Policy and Law

This joint programme aims to promote advanced knowledge and understanding of the theory, concepts and rules of law.

Social Policy and Politics

In this programme you will critically assess how policies are made and what actors and processes influence the policy making process.

Social Policy and Sociology

Study Social Policy and Sociology and you will be challenged to re-evaluate how you look at politics, society and the economy.

Social Policy with Quantitative Methods

In this programme you will discuss how policies affect our civic culture, through studying political engagement and citizen participation.

Postgraduate research programmes

Programmes content.

Global Health Policy

Pursue interdisciplinary research across public health and the social sciences and drive new understanding on how public health is implemented internationally.

Research in Social and Political Science

Undertake doctoral-level research in Social and Political Science subject areas, and gain necessary skills through a structured programme of research training.

Draw on a wide range of disciplinary perspectives and carry out advanced research on social problems and policy, practicing responses to these locally, nationally and globally.

Postgraduate taught programmes

Comparative Public Policy

Critically understand the economic, political and social factors that influence nations’ responses to public policy issues.

A policy-focused approach to global health, preparing students for roles in public health policy, research and advocacy.

Public Policy

Explore the theories and approaches to understanding and engaging with policy work.

Social Research

Develop key techniques and approaches to research the social sciences.