Homepage — Political and Social Sciences - SPS

Society and politics beyond national borders

We study the political, social, economic and institutional transformations of the contemporary world to understand changes beyond national borders and contribute to more effective decision-making

We are building the future through knowledge

  • Politics
  • Society
  • International Relations
  • Europe
  • Law
  • Public policy
  • Justice
  • Democracy
  • Sociology
  • Culture
  • Political history
  • The Global South
  • International cooperation
  • Urban development
  • Participation
  • Digital platforms and Artificial Intelligence

About us

A leading European centre for research and teaching in the fields of political science and the social sciences.

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5,114

Students enrolled on degree programmes in the 2024/2025 academic year

638

Students on international mobility in the 2023/24 academic year

46

Total number of competitive research projects in 2022, 2023 and 2024

115

Full professors, associate professors and researchers as at 31 December 2024

News

Are you interested in global sustainability? Join the UnaVEx – Virtual Exchange for Sustainability

Between November and December 2026, join the online international exchange programme to discuss and act on today’s global sustainability challenges. Apply until 1 November.

Do you travel around Bologna and district?

You can purchase a subsidised annual pass for TPER buses until 15 December 2026, subject to the availability of funds.

Have you heard of the Field Work call for applications?

Would you like to gain experience in development cooperation in countries of the Global South? Get ready to apply – you can now propose a position of your own choosing.

The call for Great-ER is open!

Take part in the free, 12-month advanced incubation programme, designed to support the development of deep tech research-based business projects. Apply by 23 September.

Events

Lecture
EUFutures seminar by Amandine Crespy

9 November 2026

Left Behind? Just Transition and Compensation through the Social Climate Fund

Amandine Crespy (Université Libre de Bruxelles) will hold the third seminar of the 'EU Growth Under Stress' EUFutures series on November 9, 2026

Presentation
A road that branches off into three possible paths, set in a snowy, fog-covered countryside landscape

10 November 2026

The Defence Dilemma

Italy in an Age of Rearmament

Seminar

10 November 2026

Sulla cibernetica e il neoliberalismo. Tecnologia, scienze sociali e modernità politica

Organized by Luca Rebolino, with Matteo Pasquinelli, Jacopo Bonasera, Annalisa Cananzi, Matilde Ciolli e Marco Ferrari

Seminar

10 November 2026

Questione agraria e sviluppo rurale in Africa

Esperienze di ricerca e didattica multidisciplinare

Job opportunities, calls and contracting

Opportunities for professional development, training and collaboration offered by the Department.

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