The Instituto Superior de Ciências Sociais e Políticas (ISCSP) (Institute of Social and Political Sciences) is part of the University of Lisbon (ULisboa).
As a higher education institution, ISCSP aims to equip students with skills in the cultural, scientific and technical fields; conduct fundamental and applied research; provide community service; and promote exchanges in the social and political sciences.
The Colonial School was established by a decree of 18 January 1906 of the Portuguese Navy and Overseas Affairs Ministry.
The School had the special purpose of instructing those who were to participate in the operation of the Portuguese overseas possessions.
In 1954, the ESC was given a new name, Instituto Superior de Estudos Ultramarinos (ISEU) or Higher Institute of Overseas Studies.
In 1962, the ISEU was renamed the Instituto Superior de Ciências Sociais e Política Ultramarina (ISCSPU) or School of Social Sciences and Overseas Policy.
New courses in Sociology and Anthropology were added, which made ISCSPU the first institution in Portugal to teach these academic subjects.
In the academic year 1977-1978, ISCSP resumed with a degree course in Political and Social Sciences which provisionally replaced the old syllabus.