Social, Political & Legal Studies
Social, Political & Legal Short Courses.

We will be offering some in-person courses, as well as a selection of online courses too. Please note:
- Our in-person courses will follow the latest Scottish Government and University of Edinburgh guidance on health and hygiene in teaching spaces. More details will be made available prior to the start of a course.
- Our online courses will continue to offer a learning experience for those unable to attend in-person classes. For more information about learning online with us, please see our Learning Remotely FAQs.
Courses marked as (credit) are open to everyone. As a credit student, you will matriculate as a student at the University of Edinburgh as part of the registration process for these courses. For more information, please visit the Studying for Credit pages.
In-person courses
- 20 weeks *Credit* 10 weeks from Monday, 26 September (18:10-20:00) AND 10 weeks from Monday, 16 January (18:10-20:00) (Course fee: £392/Click here for help with fees and discounts)
International Human Rights Law
- Thursday, 29 September (16:10-18:00) 10 weeks (Course fee: £155/Click here for help with fees and discounts)
Politics and International Relations
- 20 weeks *Credit* 10 weeks from Thursday, 29 September (18:10-20:00) AND 10 weeks from Thursday 19 January (18:10-20:00) (Course fee: £392/Click here for help with fees and discounts)
Online courses
Understanding Economics (Online)
Tuesday, 27 September (18:00-20:00) 10 weeks (Course fee: £155/Click here for help with fees and discounts)
In-person courses
- Monday, 16 January (14:10-16:00) 10 weeks (Course fee: £155/Click here for help with fees and discounts)
- Wednesday, 18 January (18:10-20:00) 10 weeks (Course fee: £155/Click here for help with fees and discounts)
- Wednesday, 18 January (18:10-20:00) 10 weeks (Course fee: £155/Click here for help with fees and discounts)
- Thursday, 19 January (18:10-20:00) 10 weeks (Course fee: £155/Click here for help with fees and discounts)
Social Anthropology: Participant Observation
- Friday, 24 March (11:10-16:00) One day course (Course fee: £31/Click here for help with fees and discounts)
Online courses
Democracy in Theory and Practice (Online)
- Tuesday, 17 January (18:00-19:30) 10 weeks *Credit* (Course fee: £196/Click here for help with fees and discounts)
International Human Rights Law (Online)
- Friday, 20 January (16:00-18:00) 10 weeks (Course fee: £155/Click here for help with fees and discounts)
Term 3 (April to June 2023)
In-person courses
Social Anthropology: Participant Observation
- Friday, 24 March (11:10-16:00) One day course (Course fee: £31/Click here for help with fees and discounts)
- Monday, 17 April (14:10-16:00) 10 weeks (Course fee: £155/Click here for help with fees and discounts)
An Introduction to Social Anthropology
- Monday, 17 April (18:10-20:00) 10 weeks (Course fee: £155/Click here for help with fees and discounts)
- Wednesday, 21 June (10:10-16:00) 3 consecutive days (21 - 23 June) (Course fee: £116/Click here for help with fees and discounts)
Important Information
For enquiries about the content of the courses in this subject area, please contact Course Organiser, Shona Norbash by email: spls.col@ed.ac.uk.
For all general enquiries, please contact us by email COL@ed.ac.uk.