Understanding Africa in the contemporary world

The University of Edinburgh has an important and long historical connection with Africa, and the Centre of African Studies (CAS) is a world leading centre for the study of Africa.

Founded in 1962, CAS provides interdisciplinary undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and supervision on Africa and international development. It hosts a vibrant research community, committed to critical and cutting-edge theoretical and empirical approaches, placing African experiences at the centre of interdisciplinary scholarship.

CAS is the largest centre of African studies in Europe and regularly appears at the top of UK good university guides. It delivers a range of high-quality masters programmes on campus and online and runs prestigious PhD programmes that attract students from across the world.

In addition, CAS seeks to contribute to collective efforts to centre African voices and theorising in understanding Africa and the contemporary world. CAS provides interdisciplinary undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and supervision on Africa and international development. 

Researchers at CAS undertake cutting-edge interdisciplinary research. Its scholars are committed to the critical study of a diverse range of topics as well as the pursuit of inclusive, ethical and equitable partnerships. The centre currently hosts more than 20 research projects, including several large, international collaborative projects.