Pre-University: Social Sciences

Students will explore different areas of the social sciences, such as Economics, Politics, Social Policy, and Social Anthropology, and discover what it's like to be a social science student in the beautiful, historic city of Edinburgh.

Are you thinking about studying a science subject at university?

This unique course is specially designed for high school students who are interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree. It will be taught by academics in the social sciences with years of experience helping students from all backgrounds transition successfully into higher education. 

Students will get to explore a range of social sciences subjects and how their research helps tackle key contemporary social issues, such as climate change, war, and inequality.

Course teachers

Dr Brian McGrail, Dr Morna Finnegan, Dr Gisli Vogler and Dr Vangelis Chiotis 

Credit bearing

No

Eligibility

Students must be in their penultimate or final year of high school and aged 16-18 years.

Language requirements

Applicants should meet the minimum English language requirements in order to fully benefit from, and engage with, Summer School courses. Your English language ability must be equivalent to, or above, 6.5 IELTS overall with 5.5 in each component.

Device requirements

Course materials will be delivered via the University of Edinburgh's Virtual Learning Environment. To access these materials, you will require a suitable device, such as a laptop or tablet. 

Teaching location

Holyrood Campus

Dates

29 June - 10 July 2026

Length

2 weeks

Course fee

TBC

Application deadline

TBC


Dr Brian McGrail is a Lecturer at the Centre for Open Learning and an Associate Lecturer for the Open University. He has taught in UK higher education since 1992 and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Brian has mainly taught in the area of interdisciplinary social sciences (at foundation level), but also sociology, political economy and urban studies (at Honours level), and post-graduate students in the philosophy of science. Dr McGrail has undertaken post-doctoral research into UK financial landownership and the introduction of electronic surveillance into residential housing estates. He currently teaches on the Centre for Open Learning’s Access and International Foundation, and Short Course Programmes, and is an external examiner at the University of Glasgow.

 

Dr Morna Finnegan is a Teaching Fellow at the Centre for Open Learning. She is a social anthropologist who received her PhD from the University of Edinburgh in 2010. Her research interests include gender, child development and attachment, political egalitarianism and the anthropology of power more broadly. Morna has worked as an independent researcher and writer and has published several articles and a co-edited book on human origins from a social anthropological perspective. She has been teaching social anthropology at the Centre for Open Learning since 2018, and has worked both on short courses and on the International Foundation Programme. She has also taught Access Social Sciences.

 

Dr Gisli Vogler is a Lecturer at the Centre for Open Learning. He has taught in UK higher education since 2016 and has a PhD in Politics from The University of Edinburgh. Gisli has mainly taught in the area of interdisciplinary social sciences (at foundation level), sociology and politics (at all levels of undergraduate studies), and has previously taught at the School of Social and Political Science, Edinburgh University, as well as the University of Vienna and the University of Leeds.

 

Dr Vangelis Chiotis is a Teaching Fellow at the Centre for Open Learning. He has been working as lecturer and teaching assistant in higher education since 2010, teaching economics and politics. His research interests include moral philosophy, applied and normative ethics, theories of justice and philosophy of economics. Dr Chiotis holds a PhD in Politics, Economics and Philosophy from the University of York, an MA in Political Economy from the University of Essex and a BSc in Economics from the University of Piraeus, Greece. 


The course aims to introduce Pre-University students to the study of Social Sciences at the University of Edinburgh. Edinburgh has a long and proud history in the social sciences, including through the contributions of key figures of the Scottish Enlightenment, such as Adam Smith and Adam Ferguson, who produced ground-breaking work in economics and sociology.

The course also aims to provide an immersive experience of what it is like to be an undergraduate student at a leading UK university. Students will be introduced to popular forms of learning and teaching and will be taught through a mix of lectures and tutorials. These will be complemented by educational visits to, for example, the Adam Smith special collection or the Scottish Parliament, which will help to get to know the university and city.

University lectures will be delivered by subject specialists and focus on four subjects: Economics, Social Policy, Politics and Social Anthropology. The introductory talks on these subjects will be followed by tutorials, which focus on working in small groups and students learning from each other, guided by a course teacher. Tutorials will provide an opportunity to check students’ understanding of the lectures and to work on key academic skills, including writing, reading, and group discussion. All reading material and lecture slides will be provided by the teachers in an accessible style. Teachers will ensure students can learn in an inclusive, supportive environment that challenges them to reflect on their basic assumptions and prior knowledge.

The focus on introducing students to common forms of academic learning and teaching at undergraduate level means that lectures and tutorials will be relevant for people interested in other social science subjects, such as Psychology, Sociology, or Business. In addition, participants in the summer school will receive information on and have opportunities to ask questions about how to apply to a UK university from the University of Edinburgh Admissions team.


Class Times

Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10:00 - 12:00

Tuesday, Thursday: 10:00 – 16:00

 

View our Sample Timetable for an idea of what to expect


On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Display a keen interest in the Social Sciences. 
  2. Display an ability to think in an interdisciplinary way using a common theme. 
  3. Demonstrate skills that are integral to studying the Social Sciences including research skills and critical analysis. 
  4. Demonstrate an awareness of the role and importance of social sciences in contemporary societies. 
  5. Show an awareness of the social values and institutions that shape our world, with a focus on equality. 

The Pre-University courses are based at the University of Edinburgh’s Holyrood campus. This campus sits just off the Royal Mile, which connects Holyrood Palace to Edinburgh Caste. The campus houses a library, cafe and several study spaces and is surrounded by a number of cafes and grocery stores where you can buy lunch. It is also just around the corner from the Pleasance Sports Complex and Gym which you will have the opportunity to visit as part of the programme.

The Holyrood campus is approximately 20 minutes from the accommodation. You will be expected to walk to and from campus each day. The weather in Edinburgh can be changeable - so make sure to pack a rain coat and umbrella!


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