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School of Social Sciences

The School of Social Sciences (SoSS), located in the renamed Robert Sobukwe building, the historical building of the Great Hall, is a hub where academics, researchers, and post-doctoral fellows from various disciplines are actively involved in teaching and research, maintaining academic excellence and incorporating innovative methods.

Through its diverse programs and centres, the School of Social Sciences is committed to promoting our understanding of all aspects of society to improve democracy and the quality of life for a more inclusive society. In addition to its focus on research and teaching, SoSS is deeply committed to playing a pivotal role in shaping public discourse and contributing to impactful public policies. Promoting excellent teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels to provide intellectual and applied skills:

  • Encouraging research that expands knowledge;
  • Strengthening involvement within various disciplines to create interdisciplinary collaborations;
  • Fostering partnerships with international institutions, particularly across Africa;
  • Playing a central role in public debates and dialogues that promote societal understanding and contribute to knowledge that informs public policy;
  • Supporting the University's mission and vision to become the leading university in the Global South by 2033.

Academic Disciplines and Centres

History - Founded in 1917, the Division continues to attract top-class academics.

Philosophy - Seeks to understand ourselves, our relationships with one another, and our place in the world.

International Relations - Studies foreign affairs and global issues that affect states within the international system.

Demography and Population Studies - Explores the dynamics of human populations.

Anthropology - Seeks to understand the great diversity of human life and experiences

Political Studies - Engages with the challenges of society and with the place of South Africa in Africa, the Global South, and the wider world.

Development Studies - Explores practical ways of achieving an improvement in the human condition.

Sociology - Studies society in all its complexity, from both an empirical and a theoretical perspective.
BA Career Packages A career package consists of a focused BA followed by a professional year of study.
Global Labour University (GLU) GLU is a network of universities, trade unions and support organisations offering postgraduate programmes and courses in labour studies to trade unionists.
History Workshop Africanist and Marxist influences mixed with strains of Social and People’s History to produce new ways of understanding Southern African history.