Social Science

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Social Science

Welcome to the School of Social Science

Listen to Dr Sam May's new student welcome

Postgraduate Taught

January 2025

Academic Induction

During Welcome Week the School of Social Science will have academic inductions for our new postgraduate students. 

All new students must report to the programme director of their particular programme of study see below for programme information. 

MSc/MLitt STUDENTS

MLitt MUSEUM STUDIES
  • Alison Brown,
    Thursday 23 January 2025, anytime between 10am – 12pm
    Room G4, Block C, Edward Wright Building
MSc INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
MSc NTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW
MSc INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & MANAGEMENT
  • Ritu Vij
    Friday 24 January 2025, anytime between 10am – 1pm,
    Room F59, Block C, Edward Wright Building
MSc INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
  • Ritu Vij, 
    Friday 24 January 2025, anytime between 10am – 1pm,
    Room F59, Block C, Edward Wright Building
MSc INTERNATIONAL FINANCE & POLITICAL RELATIONS
MSc ENERGY, POLITICS & LAW
  • Bennett Collins
    Wednesday 22 January 2025, anytime between 1pm – 4pm,
    Room F43, Block C, Edward Wright Building
MSc STRATEGIC STUDIES
MSc STRATEGIC STUDIES & INT. LAW
MSc STRATEGIC STUDIES & MANAGEMENT
MSc STRATEGIC STUDIES AND ENERGY SECURITY
  • Jim Johnston
    A pre-class welcome event will be held on Wednesday 22 January 2025 11-12pm,
    Block C, Edward Wright Coffee Room (Room F40).
MSc STRATEGIC STUDIES & DIPLOMACY
  • Mervyn Bain
    Thursday 23 January 2025, anytime between 2pm-4pm,
    Room F53, Block C, Edward Wright Building
MSc SOCIOLOGY
  • Luisa Gandolfo
    Friday 20 January 2025, anytime between 10am – 12pm,
    Room F22, Block C, Edward Wright Building
MSc POLICY EVALUATION
  • Andrew McKinnon
    Tuesday 21 January 2025, anytime between 10am – 12pm,
    Room F19, Block C, Edward Wright Building
Key Contacts in School

For general enquiries related to your course, please email socscipg@abdn.ac.uk.

  • Anthropology: Dr Martin Mills, Head of Department
  • PIR: Dr Tom Bentley, Head of Department
  • Sociology: Dr Andrew McKinnon, Head of Department

 

Reading Lists

Reading lists for individual courses will be available through MyAberdeen at the start of term. In the meantime, you can brush up your study skills and learn more about the University at our award-winning Toolkit website.

Undergraduate

September 2025

Academic Induction

During Welcome Week the School of Social Science will have academic inductions for our new undergraduate students.

Details will be available nearer September.

Key Contacts in School

For general enquiries related to your course, please email socsci@abdn.ac.uk.

  • Anthropology: Dr Tatiana Argounova-Low, Head of Department
  • PIR: Professor Joanne McEvoy, Head of Department
  • Sociology: Dr Andrew McKinnon, Head of Department
Reading Lists

Reading lists for individual courses will be available on the course pages on MyAberdeen at the start of term.

In the meantime, you can brush up your study skills and learn more about the University at our award-winning Toolkit website.

Postgraduate Research

As well as being a Postgraduate Research Student in the School of Social Science you are also part of a wider PGR community through the Postgraduate Research School.

Key School Contacts

Dr Isabella Kasselstrand
Director of Postgraduate Research Studies

Mrs Kerry Boyne
School Administrator (PGT & Research)

Orientation and Registration Information

Please contact your Supervisor before arrival to arrange a suitable time to meet.

We are looking forward to welcoming you to campus to start your research journey with us. As a Postgraduate Research student you will have the opportunity to attend a University wide induction in addition to your school induction.

The University of Aberdeen Orientation programme has been designed to take you through all of the essential information you will need for your student life. You can get started now by working through the interactive modules.

There are a series of modules that you can work through before you arrive. Once you have registered you can access the remaining modules and complete your mandatory training programme through your bespoke PGR training platform on our virtual learning environment.

There will be a school welcome event for Postgraduate Research students. This will provide an opportunity to meet Postgraduate coordinators and PhD supervisors. There will also be time to answer any questions you may have. Further details regarding the welcome event will follow in due course.

Audit Master's courses

As a PGR student you may have the opportunity to audit Master's courses to augment your research training. Please discuss this with your supervisor and check out the postgraduate taught pages above.

The PGR School also offers a comprehensive training programme to support your research journey.

Timelines and Milestones

The PGR School training and development programme offers academic, professional, and personal development through a number of training workshops, resources and opportunities, all intended to support the PGR community at the University of Aberdeen.

Find out more here.