university of edinburgh sociology phd

Degree Programme Table: Sociology (PhD) (Full-time) (PRPHDSOCIO1F)

Year 1 academic year: 2022/23, starting in: september.

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

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Sociology PhD

The university of edinburgh, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, similar courses at different universities, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Subject areas

Course type.

Research profile

Sociology at Edinburgh is one of the premier research units in the UK, as indicated by our excellent rating in the latest Research Assessment Exercise.

We have a long-standing commitment to original empirical and theoretical work on society, and to the production of cultural and scientific knowledge.

We work closely with other colleagues in the School and supervise many cross-disciplinary projects.

Who this programme is for

Applications are particularly welcome from students wishing to specialise in: refugee and migration studies; auto/biography and narrative studies; comparative sociology South Asian studies; Southern Africa; family and intimate relations; innovation in genomics; medical sociology; political sociology; nationalism studies; constitutional change and governance; social studies of finance and markets; social, cultural and feminist theory; gender, inequality and social stratification; work, consumption and organisations; Scottish society and politics; science and technology studies; sociology of emotions.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

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.

Crime Science MSc

Ucl (university college london), political sociology (russia and eastern europe) ma, population health msc, bioarchaeological and forensic anthropology msc, ethnographic and documentary film (practical) ma.

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Sociology PhD

Central campus, edinburgh, united kingdom, # 23 qs subject rankings, 36 months program duration, yes scholarships, sociology main subject area, program overview, main subject, study level.

Edinburgh is one of the leading international centres of excellence for postgraduate study in sociology.

Our PhD degree is eligible for Economic and Social Research Council funding and our postgraduate research students come from all over the world and join our vibrant and diverse postgraduate student community, which plays a full role in the life of the department.

Many of our students have non-sociology backgrounds and bring with them experience and expertise from other disciplines in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. Whatever your background, you will thrive at Edinburgh.

Potential applicants are encouraged to contact the Postgraduate Admissions Advisor (Research) to discuss their research proposals and the availability of appropriate research supervision, using the email address on the right-hand side of the page.

Admission requirements

Important dates, tuition fee and scholarships, scholarships.

One of the important factors when considering a master's degree is the cost of study. Luckily, there are many options available to help students fund their master's programme. Download your copy of the Scholarship Guide to find out which scholarships from around the world could be available to you, and how to apply for them.

In this guide you will find:

Where to look for scholarship opportunities

How to apply to scholarships relevant to you

A list of available scholarships around the world

A scholarship application checklist

QS WUR Ranking By Subject

More programs from the university, bachelor ug.

Undergraduate programmes at the University of Edinburgh

We offer almost 400 degrees across 60 different subject areas . Many of these are joint honours degrees, offering the potential for innovative cross-disciplinary subject combinations. Some of our degrees let you study a single subject in depth, developing a deep understanding of one area. Others feature an open and flexible structure with options to tailor your own studies. This lets you choose whether to experience a wide range of topics before you specialise, or sample multiple subjects in a broader degree.  Our global links offer you possibilities for fieldwork, industry placements and study abroad opportunities, and our research-led, industry-informed teaching incorporates the latest developments in your field. Your options 

As one of Scotland’s four ‘ancient’ universities, many of our full-time degrees in the humanities and social sciences are undergraduate masters qualifications that require four years of study. In science and engineering we offer four-year bachelors degrees or five-year integrated masters. We also offer a smaller number of other qualifications including LLB Law, as well as a few degrees with shorter or longer full-time study durations. These range from three to five or even six years (MBChB Medicine). Depending on your qualifications, you may have the option to start in the second year of some of our science, engineering, biomedical sciences and medical sciences, and art and design degrees. We also offer an expanding range of options for students progressing from a Higher National Certificate or Diploma.

Supporting you and your studies

We provide a range of support services to help not only with your academic needs, but also your personal needs.

Your first point of contact for teaching, academic advice and guidance will be within the School in which you study. You will be supported by a combination of academic and dedicated student experience and administrative staff who will be able to provide you with or direct you to appropriate support for challenges that may occur during your studies, whether this is directly related to your learning and teaching skills or rising from life situations. You will also have access to a variety of peer-to-peer learning networks as well as student societies. Funding and scholarships We appreciate studying here is a significant financial commitment. We awarded more than £10m in undergraduate financial support in 2022/23, and are dedicated to helping students of all ages and social backgrounds enter higher education, regardless of your financial situation. Check our scholarships and student funding pages for more details and to explore your options.

Arts and Humanities (6)

Ba animation, ba fine art, ba graphic design, ba illustration, ba interior design, ba jewellery and silversmithing, ba performance costume, ba product design, ba textiles, ba/ma architecture, bsc acoustics and music technology, bsc geography, ma ancient history, ma ancient history and greek, ma ancient history and latin, ma ancient mediterranean civilisations, ma ancient and medieval history, ma arabic and ancient greek, ma arabic and business, ma arabic and french, ma arabic and history, ma arabic and persian, ma arabic and politics, ma arabic and social anthropology, ma arabic and spanish, ma arabic with islamic and middle eastern studies, ma archaeology, ma archaeology and ancient history, ma archaeology and social anthropology, ma architectural history and archaeology, ma architectural history and heritage, ma celtic and archaeology, ma celtic and english language, ma celtic and english literature, ma celtic and french, ma celtic and linguistics, ma celtic and scandinavian studies, ma celtic and scottish history, ma celtic and scottish literature, ma chinese and french, ma chinese and german, ma chinese and history, ma chinese and linguistics, ma chinese and russian studies, ma chinese and spanish, ma classical archaeology and ancient history, ma classical archaeology and greek, ma classical archaeology and latin, ma classical studies, ma classics, ma classics and english language, ma classics and linguistics, ma english language, ma english language and literature, ma english literature, ma english literature and classics, ma english literature and history, ma english and scottish literature, ma fine art (5-year programme), ma french and business, ma french and classics, ma french and english language, ma french and english literature, ma french and german, ma french and history, ma french and history of art, ma french and italian, ma french and linguistics, ma french and philosophy, ma french and politics, ma french and portuguese, ma french and russian studies, ma french and scandinavian studies, ma french and social policy, ma french and spanish, ma geography, ma german and business, ma german and classics, ma german and english language, ma german and english literature, ma german and history, ma german and history of art, ma german and linguistics, ma german and philosophy, ma german and politics, ma german and portuguese, ma german and russian studies, ma german and scandinavian studies, ma german and social policy, ma german and spanish, ma greek studies, ma history and archaeology, ma history and classics, ma history and economics, ma history and history of art, ma history and politics, ma history and scottish history, ma history of art, ma history of art and architectural history, ma history of art and chinese studies, ma history of art and english literature, ma history of art and history of music, ma history of art and scottish literature, ma islamic studies, ma italian and classics, ma italian and english language, ma italian and english literature, ma italian and history, ma italian and history of art, ma italian and linguistics, ma italian and philosophy, ma italian and politics, ma italian and spanish, ma japanese, ma japanese and linguistics, ma landscape architecture, ma latin studies, ma linguistics, ma linguistics and english language, ma linguistics and social anthropology, ma persian studies, ma persian and english literature, ma persian and middle eastern studies, ma persian and social anthropology, ma philosophy, ma philosophy and economics, ma philosophy and english language, ma philosophy and english literature, ma philosophy and greek, ma philosophy and linguistics, ma philosophy and mathematics, ma philosophy and politics, ma philosophy and psychology, ma philosophy and scottish literature, ma philosophy and theology, ma portuguese, ma portuguese and english language, ma portuguese and english literature, ma portuguese and linguistics, ma portuguese and philosophy, ma portuguese and scottish literature, ma russian studies, ma russian studies and classics, ma russian studies and english language, ma russian studies and english literature, ma russian studies and history, ma russian studies and history of art, ma russian studies and linguistics, ma russian studies and philosophy, ma russian studies and politics, ma russian studies and scandinavian studies, ma russian studies and social policy, ma russian studies and spanish, ma scandinavian studies (danish, norwegian, swedish), ma scandinavian studies and classics, ma scandinavian studies and english language, ma scandinavian studies and english literature, ma scandinavian studies and history, ma scandinavian studies and linguistics, ma scandinavian studies and philosophy, ma scandinavian studies and politics, ma scandinavian studies and social policy, ma scandinavian studies and spanish, ma scottish ethnology, ma scottish ethnology and archaeology, ma scottish ethnology and celtic, ma scottish ethnology and english language, ma scottish ethnology and english literature, ma scottish ethnology and scandinavian studies, ma scottish ethnology and scottish history, ma scottish literature, ma scottish literature and classics, ma scottish literature and history, ma scottish literature and scottish history, ma scottish studies, ma spanish and business, ma spanish and classics, ma spanish and english literature, ma spanish and history, ma spanish and history of art, ma spanish and linguistics, ma spanish and philosophy, ma spanish and politics, ma spanish and portuguese, business and management (6), ma accounting and business, ma accounting and finance, ma business management, ma business and economics, ma business and law, ma business with decision analytics, ma business with enterprise and innovation, ma business with human resource management, ma business with marketing, ma business with strategic economics, ma finance and business, ma international business, ma international business with chinese, ma international business with french, ma international business with german, ma international business with italian, ma international business with japanese, ma international business with spanish, engineering and technology (6), beng chemical engineering, beng civil engineering, beng computer science, beng electrical and mechanical engineering, beng electronics and computer science, beng electronics and electrical engineering, beng mechanical engineering, beng software engineering, beng structural engineering with architecture, beng structural and fire safety engineering, beng/meng engineering, bsc artificial intelligence, bsc artificial intelligence and computer science, bsc cognitive science, bsc computer science, bsc computer science and management science, bsc computer science and mathematics, bsc computer science and physics, ma cognitive science (humanities), meng chemical engineering, meng civil engineering, meng electrical and mechanical engineering, meng electronics and computer science, meng electronics and electrical engineering, meng mechanical engineering, meng structural engineering with architecture, meng structural and fire safety engineering, minf informatics (5-year undergraduate masters programme), mphys computational physics, life sciences and medicine (6), bn nursing studies, bsc anatomy and development, bsc biological sciences, bsc biological sciences (biochemistry), bsc biological sciences (biotechnology), bsc biological sciences (cell biology), bsc biological sciences (development, regeneration and stem cells), bsc biological sciences (ecology), bsc biological sciences (evolutionary biology), bsc biological sciences (genetics), bsc biological sciences (immunology), bsc biological sciences (molecular biology), bsc biological sciences (molecular genetics), bsc biological sciences (plant science), bsc biological sciences (zoology), bsc biological sciences with management, bsc biomedical informatics (based in china), bsc biomedical sciences, bsc infectious diseases, bsc integrative biomedical sciences (based in china), bsc medical sciences, bsc neuroscience, bsc oral health sciences, bsc pharmacology, bsc physiology, bsc psychology, bsc reproductive biology, bvm&s veterinary medicine (5-year programme), bvm&s veterinary medicine (graduate entry programme - 4-year programme), ma psychology and business, ma psychology and economics, ma psychology and linguistics, mbchb hcp-med for healthcare professionals, mbchb medicine (6-year programme), mbiol biological sciences, natural sciences (6), bsc applied mathematics, bsc astrophysics, bsc chemical physics, bsc chemistry, bsc computational physics, bsc earth science and physical geography, bsc earth sciences, bsc ecological and environmental sciences, bsc ecological and environmental sciences with management, bsc environmental geoscience, bsc geophysics, bsc geophysics and geology, bsc geophysics and meteorology, bsc mathematical physics, bsc mathematics, bsc mathematics and business, bsc mathematics and music, bsc mathematics and physics, bsc mathematics and statistics, bsc medicinal and biological chemistry, bsc physics, bsc physics with meteorology, bsc theoretical physics, ma mathematics, mchem chemistry, mchem medicinal and biological chemistry, mchemphys chemical physics, mearthphys geophysics, mearthphys geophysics and geology, mearthphys geophysics and geology with professional placement, mearthphys geophysics and meteorology, mearthphys geophysics and meteorology with professional placement, mearthphys geophysics with professional placement, mearthsci earth science and physical geography, mearthsci earth sciences, mmath applied mathematics, mmath mathematics, mphys astrophysics, mphys mathematical physics, mphys physics, mphys physics with meteorology, mphys physics with a year abroad, mphys theoretical physics, social sciences and management (6), ba childhood practice, ba film and television, bd divinity, bsc applied sport science, bsc social work, bsc sport management, llb global law, llb law (graduate entry), llb law (ordinary and honours), llb law and accountancy, llb law and business, llb law and celtic, llb law and french, llb law and german, llb law and history, llb law and international relations, llb law and politics, llb law and social anthropology, llb law and social policy, llb law and sociology, llb law and spanish, ma divinity and classics, ma economics, ma economics and accounting, ma economics and mathematics, ma economics and politics, ma economics and statistics, ma economics with finance, ma economics with management science, ma government, policy and society, ma government, policy and society with quantitative methods, ma health in social science, ma interdisciplinary futures, ma international relations, ma international relations with quantitative methods, ma learning in communities, ma middle eastern studies, ma physical education, ma politics, ma politics with quantitative methods, ma politics, philosophy and economics, ma primary education with gaelic (fluent speakers), ma primary education with gaelic (learners), ma religious studies, ma religious studies and english literature, ma religious studies and scottish literature, ma social anthropology, ma social anthropology and politics, ma social anthropology and social policy, ma social anthropology with development, ma social policy and economics, ma social policy and law, ma social policy and politics, ma social policy and sociology, ma social policy with quantitative methods, ma sociology, ma sociology and politics, ma sociology and psychology, ma sociology and social anthropology, ma sociology with quantitative methods, ma sustainable development, ma theology, mdiv divinity - graduate entry.

Postgraduate programmes at the University of Edinburgh

We offer over 300 taught masters courses and 135 research areas . Study with us and you will enjoy expert teaching from leading academics, at a university respected globally for its innovation and research excellence. We also offer first-class facilities and support, in a city steeped in history and culture.

Quality teaching and research

The 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) rated 90% of our research activity as world-leading or internationally excellent, ranking us fourth in the UK based on the quality and breadth of our research.

All our postgraduates benefit from this inspiring research culture. The academics involved in your teaching and learning are leaders in their fields, and the University is dedicated to delivering high-quality, innovative teaching. The latest report from the Quality Assurance Agency awarded us the highest rating possible for the quality of the student learning experience. 

We offer a range of ways to study, from on-campus taught programmes to online part-time study. We are the largest provider of online distance learning in the Russell Group of UK research-intensive universities, and offer more than 70 online programmes .

Industry links and innovation

Edinburgh was one of the first UK universities to develop commercial links with industry, government and the professions. Our commercialisation office, Edinburgh Innovations , has helped to launch more than 500 companies since 1967. They can help you take your first step to market, whether its’s through collaborative research, licencing technology or providing consultancy services.

Funding and scholarships

Postgraduate study can be a significant financial commitment; however, the range of funding sources available may surprise you. We offer several postgraduate scholarships and studentships to outstanding candidates. Check our scholarships pages for details. 

Acoustics and Music Technology MSc

Advanced sustainable design msc, american history msc, ancient history msc, ancient worlds (archaeology and classics) (online learning) msc, applied linguistics msc, archaeology msc, archaeology mscr, architectural conservation msc, architectural and urban design msc, architecture mscr, architecture, landscape and environment msc, architecture, master of (arb/riba part 2) march arb pt 2, chinese mscr, classical art and archaeology msc, classics msc, classics mscr, collections and curating practices mscr, comparative literature msc, composition mmus, contemporary art practice ma, contemporary art theory ma, contemporary history msc, creative industries msc, creative writing msc, cultural studies mscr, design and digital media msc, design for change ma, developmental linguistics msc, digital media design (online learning) msc, east asian relations msc, english language msc, english language mscr, english literature mscr, english literature: literature and modernity: 1900 to the present msc, english literature: literature and society: enlightenment, romantic and victorian msc, european archaeology msc, european masters in landscape architecture, evolution of language and cognition msc, film directing ma, film studies msc, film, exhibition and curation msc, french mscr, geographical information science msc, german mscr, global premodern art: history, heritage and curation msc, graphic design ma, history (online learning) msc, history msc, history mscr, history of art mscr, history of art, theory and display, human geography mscr, human osteoarchaeology msc, illustration ma, intellectual history msc, interior, architectural and spatial design ma, intermediality: literature, film and the arts in dialogue msc, italian mscr, japanese mscr, korean studies mscr, landscape architecture mla, landscape and wellbeing msc, late antique, islamic and byzantine studies msc, linguistics msc, linguistics mscr, medieval history msc, medieval studies mscr, mediterranean archaeology msc, mind, language and embodied cognition msc, modern and contemporary art: history, curating and criticism msc, musicology mmus, narrative futures: art, data, society (online learning) msc, narrative futures: art, data, society msc, palaeontology and geobiology mscr, philosophy msc, philosophy mscr, philosophy, science and religion (online learning) msc, phonetics msc, playwriting msc, russian mscr, scottish ethnology mscr, scottish history msc, scottish history mscr, sound design msc, sound design mscr, speech and language processing msc, sustainable lands and cities msc, translation studies msc, urban strategies and design msc, accounting and finance msc, banking innovation and risk analytics msc, business analytics msc, climate change finance and investment msc, data science msc, data and decision analytics (online learning) msc, data, inequality and society (online learning) msc, data, inequality and society msc, design informatics ma (eca), design informatics msc, entrepreneurship and innovation msc, finance msc, finance, technology and policy msc, financial modelling and optimization msc, future governance (online learning) msc, future governance msc, global strategy & sustainability msc, management msc, management mscr, management of bioeconomy, innovation and governance msc, marketing msc, service management and design (online learning) msc, service management and design msc, advanced chemical engineering msc, advanced power engineering msc, advanced technology for financial computing msc, artificial intelligence msc, bioengineering mscr, cognitive science msc, computer science msc, cyber security, privacy and trust msc, data and artificial intelligence ethics (online learning) msc, data and artificial intelligence ethics msc, digital communications mscr, digital design and manufacture msc, electrical power engineering msc, electronics msc, energy systems mscr, fire engineering science msc, high performance computing (online learning) msc, high performance computing msc, high performance computing with data science (online learning) msc, high performance computing with data science msc, infrastructure and the environment mscr, integrated micro and nano systems (imns) mscr, international master of science in fire safety engineering msc, materials and processes mscr, sensor and imaging systems msc, signal processing and communications msc, sustainable energy systems msc, advanced clinical practice (online learning) mvetsci, advanced nursing (online learning) msc, advanced nursing msc, anatomical sciences (online learning), animal breeding and genetics msc, applied animal behaviour and animal welfare msc, applied conservation genetics with wildlife forensics (online learning) msc, applied medical image analysis (online learning), applied poultry science (online learning) msc, applied psychology (healthcare) for children and young people msc, biochemistry msc, biodiversity and taxonomy of plants msc, biodiversity, wildlife and ecosystem health (online learning) msc, bioinformatics msc, biomedical sciences (life sciences) mscr, biotechnology msc, cancer biology and precision oncology (online learning) msc, cardiovascular biology mscr, clinical anatomy msc, clinical animal behaviour (online learning) msc, clinical education (online learning) msc, clinical management of pain (online learning) msc, clinical microbiology and infectious diseases (online learning) msc, clinical ophthalmology (online learning) chm, clinical trials (online learning) msc, conservation medicine (online learning) mvetsci, counselling (interpersonal dialogue) mcouns, counselling mcouns, counselling studies msc, counselling studies mscr, critical care (online learning) msc, data science for biology msc, data science for health and social care (online learning) msc, developmental science msc, doctor of medicine md, drug discovery and translational biology msc, ecology, evolution and biodiversity msc, endodontology dclindent, epidemiology (online learning) msc, epistemology, ethics and mind (online learning) msc, equine science (online learning) msc, evolutionary genetics msc, family medicine (online learning) mfm, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (fasd) (online learning), general surgery (online learning) chm, global health challenges (online learning), global health policy msc, global health studies (online learning), global health and infectious diseases (online learning) msc, global mental health and society msc, health humanities and arts mscr, human anatomy msc, human cognitive neuropsychology msc, human complex trait genetics msc, imaging (online learning) msc, infectious diseases mscr, integrative biomedical sciences (based in china) mscr, internal medicine (online learning) msc, international animal health (online learning) msc, international animal welfare, ethics and law (online learning) msc, medical sciences mmedsci by research, mental health in children and young people: psychological approaches (online learning) msc, mental health in children and young people: psychological approaches msc, neuroimaging for research (online learning) msc, neurological rehabilitation and care (online learning), neuroscience (integrative neuroscience) mscr, nursing with pre-registration (adult) mn(t), one health (online learning) msc, orthodontics dclindent, pet-mr principles and applications (online learning), paediatric emergency medicine (online learning) msc, patient safety and clinical human factors (online learning) msc, physical activity for health msc, primary care ophthalmology (online learning) msc, psychological research msc, psychological therapies msc, psychology mscr, psychology of individual differences msc, psychology of language msc, psychology of mental health (conversion) msc, quantitative genetics and genome analysis msc, rcvs certificate in advanced veterinary practice (online learning), regenerative medicine and tissue repair mscr, reproductive sciences mscr, restorative dentistry (online learning) msc, science communication and public engagement (online learning) msc, science communication and public engagement msc, simulation based clinical education, social anthropology msc, social psychology msc, stem cells and translational neurology (online learning) msc, surgical sciences (online learning) msc, surgical writing and evidence based practice (online learning), synthetic biology and biotechnology msc, systems and synthetic biology msc, trauma and orthopaedics (online learning) chm, urology (online learning) chm, vascular and endovascular surgery (online learning) chm, veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia (online learning) msc, analytical chemistry msc, applied environmental hydrogeology msc, astrobiology and planetary sciences msc, carbon management (online learning) msc, carbon management msc, circular economy (online learning) msc, circular economy msc, computational applied mathematics msc, computational mathematical finance msc, earth observation and geoinformation management msc, ecological economics msc, energy, society and sustainability msc, environment and development msc, environment, culture and society msc, environmental protection and management msc, environmental sustainability msc, food safety (online learning) msc, food security msc, future infrastructure, sustainability and climate change (online learning) msc, future infrastructure, sustainability and climate change msc, geosciences (individual project - taught pathway) mscr, geosciences (individual project) mscr, geoenergy msc, global food security and nutrition (online learning) msc, marine systems and policies msc, materials chemistry msc, mathematical physics msc, medicinal and biological chemistry msc, particle and nuclear physics msc, planetary health (online learning) msc, planetary health msc, soils and sustainability msc, sustainable lands and cities (online learning) msc, theoretical physics msc, advanced social work studies (mental health officer award), africa and international development msc, biblical studies mth, celtic studies mscr, child protection data futures (online learning) msc, child protection data futures msc, commercial law llm, comparative education and international development (ceid) msc, comparative public policy msc, comparative and european private law llm, conflict, security and development msc, corporate law llm, criminal law and criminal justice llm, criminology and criminal justice msc, cultural heritage futures (online learning) msc, cultural heritage futures msc, dance science and education msc, digital education (online learning) msc, digital sociology msc, economic and social history mscr, economics / economics (econometrics) / economics (finance) msc, education futures (online learning) msc, education futures msc, education msc, education mscr, european law llm, global challenges (online learning) msc, global crime, justice and security msc, global development challenges (online learning), global environment challenges (online learning), global environment and climate change law llm, global environment, politics and society msc, globalised muslim world, the msc, human resource management msc, human rights llm, inclusive education msc, information technology law (online learning) llm, innovation, technology and the law (online learning) llm, innovation, technology and the law llm, intellectual property law llm, international banking law and finance llm, international commercial law and practice (online learning) llm, international development (online learning) msc, international development msc, international economic law llm, international human resource management msc, international law llm, international relations msc, international and european politics msc, islam and christian-muslim relations msc, islamic and middle eastern studies (imes) mscr, islamic and middle eastern studies msc, language education msc, language and intercultural communication msc, law (online learning) llm, law (online learning) pgcert, law llm by research, leadership and learning med, mathematical economics and econometrics msc, medical anthropology msc, medical law and ethics (online learning) llm, medical law and ethics llm, nationalism in global perspective msc, operational research msc, operational research with computational optimization msc, operational research with data science msc, operational research with risk msc, outdoor education msc, outdoor environmental and sustainability education msc, performance coaching and development (online learning) msc, performance psychology msc, professional graduate diploma in education (primary), professional graduate diploma in education (secondary), professional legal practice, public health (part-time) (online learning) mph, public health, master of mph, public policy msc, religion and literature mth, religious studies msc, scandinavian studies mscr, science and religion msc, science and technology in society msc, social justice and community action (online learning) msc, social research msc, social work, master of msw, social and political science mscr, sociology and global change msc, spanish, portuguese & latin american studies (hispanic studies) mscr, sport policy, management and international development msc, sport, physical education and health sciences mscr, statistics and operational research msc, statistics with data science msc, strength and conditioning msc, teaching english to speakers of other languages (tesol) msc, the middle east in global politics msc, theology and religious studies mth by research, theology in history mth, transformative learning and teaching msc, world christianity mth, executive mba (3), executive master of business administration mba, full-time mba (3), business administration, master of mba, online/distance mba (3), business administration, master of (online learning) mba, archaeology phd, architectural history phd, architecture phd, architecture by design phd, chinese phd, classics phd, comparative literature phd, creative music practice phd, creative writing phd, cultural studies phd, east asian studies phd, english literature phd, european theatre phd, film studies phd, history phd, history of art phd, human geography and environmental sciences phd, intermediality phd, italian phd, japanese phd, korean studies phd, landscape architecture phd, linguistics and english language phd, medieval studies phd, musical composition phd, philosophy phd, russian phd, scottish history phd, translation studies phd, accounting phd, business economics phd, finance phd, financial technology phd, management phd, management science and analytics phd, advanced care phd with integrated study, cyber security, privacy and trust phd, epcc: high performance computing, computational & data science, software engineering phd, engineering phd, engineering with integrated study phd, informatics: aiai: foundations and applications of artificial intelligence, automated reasoning, agents, data intensive research phd, informatics: anc: machine learning, computational neuroscience, computational biology phd, informatics: icsa: computer architecture, compilation and system software, networks and communication phd, informatics: ilcc: language processing, speech technology, information retrieval, cognition phd, informatics: ipab: robotics, computer vision, computer graphics and animation phd, informatics: lfcs: theory and foundations of computer science, databases, software and systems modelling phd, offshore renewable energy (industrial doctorate centre) engd, agriculture and food security phd, anatomical sciences (biomedical sciences) phd, biological sciences (with internship) phd, biological sciences phd, biomedical sciences (based in china) phd, cancer (edinburgh cancer research centre) phd, cardiovascular science phd, child life and health phd, clinical brain sciences phd, clinical education phd, clinical psychology dclinpsychol, clinical veterinary sciences phd, clinical and health psychology phd, counselling studies phd, dentistry phd, doctor of dental surgery dds, doctor of veterinary medicine dvetmed, functional genetics and development phd, genetics and genomics phd, genetics and molecular medicine (mrc human genetics unit) phd, genomics and experimental medicine phd, geriatric medicine phd, global health phd, global health policy phd, health in social science phd, infection medicine phd, infection and immunity phd, inflammation phd, integrative biomedical sciences (based in china) phd, integrative physiology (biomedical sciences - centre for discovery brain sciences) phd, medical informatics phd, neuroscience (biomedical sciences - centre for discovery brain sciences) phd, nursing studies phd, orthopaedic and trauma medicine phd, paediatric dentistry dclindent, pathology phd, population health sciences phd, precision medicine phd, prosthodontics dclindent, psychiatry phd, psychology phd, psychotherapy and counselling dpsychotherapy, regenerative medicine phd, reproductive health phd, respiratory medicine phd, social anthropology phd, surgery phd, translational neuroscience phd, algebra phd, analysis phd, applied and computational mathematics phd, astrophysics phd, atmospheric and environmental sciences phd, chemistry phd, condensed matter phd, geology and geophysics phd, geometry and topology phd, mathematical modelling, analysis and computation phd, mathematical physics phd, mathematics education phd, nuclear physics phd, particle physics phd, probability and stochastic analysis phd, wind and marine energy systems and structures phd, african studies phd, celtic studies and scottish studies phd, economic and social history phd, economics phd with integrated study, education phd, ethics and practical theology phd, hebrew and old testament studies phd, history of christianity phd, international development phd, islamic studies and christian-muslim relations phd, islamic and middle eastern studies (imes) phd, new testament and christian origins phd, optimization and operational research phd, politics phd, religious studies phd, scandinavian studies phd, science and religion phd, science and technology studies phd, social policy phd, social work phd, social and political science phd, socio-cultural studies phd, south asian studies phd, spanish, portuguese & latin american studies (hispanic studies) phd, sport, physical education and health sciences phd, statistics phd, systematic theology phd, world christianity phd.

School of Social and Political Science

Sus+ the edinburgh university network of social scientists for sustainability.

Sus+ is the Edinburgh network of social scientists for sustainability. With around 100 members, Sus+ creates and facilitates contexts for social science scholars at all career stages – including PhD researchers – to identify shared research agendas and stimulate new scholarly collaborations.

Find out more about our Members.

Sociology PhD The University of Edinburgh

• On campus -
• Sep 1, 2023 Part-time - 6 years
• Sep 1, 2023 Full-time - 3 years

Key Course Facts

• View programme website
• Admission advice for international students

Course Description

Edinburgh is one of the leading international centres of excellence for postgraduate study in sociology. Our PhD degree is eligible for Economic and Social Research Council funding for UK and EU students, but our postgraduate research students come from all over the world and we have a vibrant and diverse postgraduate student community, which plays a full role in the life of the department.

Many of our students have non-sociology backgrounds and bring with them experience and expertise from other disciplines in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. Whatever your background, you will thrive at Edinburgh.<MS&&>

Potential applicants are encouraged to contact the Postgraduate Admissions Advisor (Research) MW&&> [email protected] </MW&& to discuss their research proposals and the availability of appropriate research supervision, using the email address on the right-hand side of the page</MS&&>.

Entry Requirements / Admissions

Average student cost of living in the uk.

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

University Rankings

Positions of the university of edinburgh in top uk and global rankings., about the university of edinburgh.

The University of Edinburgh is located in the Scottish city of the same name, and is one of the oldest universities in the entire United Kingdom, having opened in the year 1583. The university enjoys a strong reputation for its contributions to international research efforts, which is reflected in their inclusion in the Russell Group, Universitas 21, and Una Europa. Edinburgh offers its residents a historic yet modern city, with a lively nightlife scene, reliable public transport, and friendly locals.

List of 686 Bachelor and Master Courses from The University of Edinburgh - Course Catalogue

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We have 8 Sociology PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in Edinburgh

Edinburgh  United Kingdom

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Sociology PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in Edinburgh

University of Edinburgh

Edinburgh. Extraordinary futures await.

‘Vulnerabilities’ and ‘Capabilities’ within the Context of Protracted Displacement Crises

Phd research project.

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

Self-Funded PhD Students Only

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

Documentary Practice and Knowledge Co-production

The dr david summers trust scholarship in scottish literary culture, funded phd project (uk students only).

This research project has funding attached. It is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

An Evaluation of Drone Technology Adoption For Last Mile Logistics

1 year - mres project - why aren't we teaching it an exploration of equality, diversity, and inclusion in stem university programmes, mres: environmental attitudes and behaviours of brazilian mountain bikers (sas0203), jazz as a political force, make your phd extraordinary, funded phd programme (students worldwide).

Some or all of the PhD opportunities in this programme have funding attached. Applications for this programme are welcome from suitably qualified candidates worldwide. Funding may only be available to a limited set of nationalities and you should read the full programme details for further information.

PhD Opportunities

PhD Opportunities highlight some of the specific PhD projects, programmes or other information currently available from a university.

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Social Anthropology PhD

Awards: PhD

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Social Anthropology

Introduction to Postgraduate Study at the University of Edinburgh

Join us online on 25 September to learn more about Scotland, the city of Edinburgh and postgraduate study at the University.

Find out more and register

Research profile

Our Social Anthropology group forms an international centre of excellence for postgraduate training, recognised as one of the premier research departments in the UK.

Edinburgh’s Social Anthropology department is among the largest in the UK, and our research interests are correspondingly diverse.

Our research is global in scope and includes core themes in:

• health and wellbeing
• religion and society
• migration and refugee studies
• science and technology
• the anthropology of kinship
• peace and conflict studies
• anthropology and the arts
• media anthropology
• cultural heritage
• international development
• human-animal relations
• the anthropology of design

Our work generally combines a traditional anthropological emphasis on ethnographic fieldwork with a focus on contemporary issues.

We welcome interdisciplinary research and are home to the Edinburgh Centre for Medical Anthropology (EdCMA), and numerous collaborations with the Edinburgh College of Art, including the Atelier Network.

We also work closely with the Centre for African Studies (CAS), particularly with research on international development.

Programme structure

Usually undertaken full-time over three years, or part-time over six years, the PhD in Social Anthropology is a research degree in which you will make an original contribution to our knowledge by pursuing an extended and focused piece of research on a topic of your interest.

The programme is supported by the Graduate School of Social and Political Science, which enables you to acquire a broader set of transferable skills during your time with us.

Training and support

The PhD programme combines work on your thesis project, usually based on long-term fieldwork, with systematic training in anthropological and social research skills.

A wide range of training facilities are available to PhD students. The Graduate School provides a range of ESRC-recognised research training courses for social science students across the University. You are encouraged to participate in taught Masters level courses to assist your intellectual development and support you research.

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

Research library and archive facilities in Edinburgh are outstanding.

You will be a member of the Graduate School of Social & Political Science, with full access to the Graduate School’s facilities in the Chrystal Macmillan Building.

Other library and archive facilities include the University’s Main Library, 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.

Entry requirements

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in social anthropology. Your application will also be considered if you have a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in another subject, and a postgraduate masters level degree in social anthropology.

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 at a level that 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 70 with at least 59 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. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Fees and costs

Tuition fees, scholarships and funding, 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 Alice Street
• Contact: [email protected]
• Graduate School of Social & Political Science
• Chrystal Macmillan Building
• 15A George Square
• Central Campus
• Programme: Social Anthropology
• School: Social & Political Science
• College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

This programme is not currently accepting applications. Applications for the next intake usually open in October.

Start date: September

Awards: PhD (36 mth FT, 72 mth PT)

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 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.

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

School of Social and Political Science

Social anthropology, societies and cultures in a changing world.

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

We bring our research expertise to questions ranging from energy transitions to bodily remains; food security to media censorship; human-animal relations to the meaning of sacrifice; and forced displacement to reproductive justice.

Our teaching is research-led and we are committed to taking our students along with us on our critical journeys through the comparative study of culture and society.

We are among the largest departments in the UK and our research interests are correspondingly diverse.

Our teaching is research-led and international in its orientation. Our research is opening up the discipline into new and urgent terrains.

We have an active and inclusive research environment in which collaborative research practices and individual research trajectories thrive.

Find out more about the whole team: the academic staff and their research interests, PhD students and their thesis subjects, and the professional services colleagues who keep it all in working order.

See the latest news updates from Social Anthropology.

You can find us in the Chrystal Macmillan Building in George Square - right at the heart of the central campus.

The Social Anthropology Society

The Social Anthropology Society looks to combine academic and social events to bring people together and make a lovely, welcoming community for those interested in anthropology!

The Edinburgh Anthropology Showcase

Read our newsletter that highlights recent research from staff and students in the subject area of social anthropology.

Edinburgh Centre for Medical Anthropology (EdCMA)

EdCMA is a world leading academic unit dedicated to the anthropological study of the body, health, and medicine.

Introduction to Social Anthropology school talks

Edinburgh Social Anthropology staff would be delighted to travel to state secondary schools in Scotland to give a lecture explaining what Social Anthropology is and what it’s like to study it at university.

Latest news

News content, social anthropology palestine teaching resources.

The Social Anthropology subject area at the School of Social and Political Science (SPS) has collated a selection of teaching and educational resources on Palestine, offering critical discourse, callenging mainstream narratives and advocating for justice. 

SPS academic leads project tackling single-use plastics in healthcare

A new project led by School of Social and Political Science (SPS) academic Alice Street aims to reduce single-use plastics across the healthcare industry globally.

SPS academic recognised with prestigious British Academy Fellowship

Professor Tobias Kelly has been announced as a new British Academy Fellow for 2023.

Publishing for Academics - Event Series

Come and meet an exciting range of external speakers involved in writing and publishing academic material incuding books, journal articles and monographs.

Upcoming events

Events content, political and legal anthropology working group.