MA Scottish Ethnology and English Literature

One of the most attractive characteristics of this four-year programme is its flexibility.

In Years 1 and 2, your pre-honours years, you will choose option courses from a wide range of disciplines in addition to your core subjects of Scottish Ethnology and English Literature. You can, for example, take one or more languages, or explore other world cultures.

As well as broadening your education and skill set, this flexibility may enable you to change the focus of your programme in Years 3 and 4, your honours years.

Year 1

Scottish Ethnology

You will study courses on:

• Conceptualising Scotland - an introduction to the study of culture, society and tradition in Scotland
• Creating Scotland - an exploration of Scotland's topographical, social and cultural features and their influence on each other over time

Conceptualising Scotland course

In Conceptualising Scotland, you will deconstruct competing conceptions and images of the nation through:

• heritage
• literature
• folklore
• music and song
• visual art
• the popular media

You will also consider cultural representation’s political context, and the connections between culture and industry.

Watch or listen to a short sample lecture on protest song from Conceptualising Scotland

Creating Scotland course

In Creating Scotland, you will gain an understanding of the diversity of Scotland's resources, the nature of its land and seascapes, the complexity of its settlement patterns, and its regional variety.

You will explore the ways in which experiences of family, community and work are manifested and expressed in different cultural forms. This involves training in appropriate academic sources and methods.

Watch or listen to a short sample lecture on the Scots language from Creating Scotland

English Literature

You will take two Literary Studies courses. These will introduce you to the essential skills needed for the critical close reading of the core literary genres of:

• poetry
• drama
• prose

You will read works of literature written in English from around the world, and encounter a range of ideas about the nature and purpose of literary study.

Option courses

You will complete your Year 1 studies with option courses chosen from a wide range offered by the University.

You can, for example, opt to study a language, such as Scottish Gaelic. We offer one of the widest range of languages of any UK university - the majority are suitable for complete beginners and include cultural study.

Other options include, but are not limited to, courses in:

• linguistics and language sciences
• Celtic civilisation
• business, economics and informatics
• politics, social policy and social anthropology
• art and architectural history
• history, classics and archaeology
• philosophy, divinity and law

Year 2

Scottish Ethnology

You will study courses on:

• Scotland and Orality - an ethnological approach to verbal expression using Scotland's rich song and oral narrative traditions
• Visualising Scotland - a critical examination of the way Scotland has portrayed itself, and been portrayed by others, through visual media

Scotland and Orality course

In Scotland and Orality, you will be introduced to key concepts and theories relating to the performance and transmission of oral material. Case studies will involve songs, ballads, legends and folktales drawn from the School of Scottish Studies Archives.

Visualising Scotland course

In Visualising Scotland, you will develop a critical understanding of the contribution made by paintings, films, documentaries and other visual media to concepts like:

• nationhood
• identity
• heritage
• tradition
• cultural difference

English Literature

You will be introduced to the study of English literature in its cultural and historical contexts via a survey of literature from the late Medieval period to the mid-twentieth century.

These courses will explore the relationship between literary texts and the construction of national, international and imperial cultures.

Option courses

As in Year 1, you will choose from a wide range of option courses. You can opt to continue studying a subject you took in Year 1, or do something completely different.

Year 3

This is the first of your honours years, when you will specialise in the aspects of Scottish Ethnology and English Literature which interest you most.

You will choose from a range of specialist, honours-level courses in both subjects.

These courses will enable you to focus on different periods, topics and approaches to your subjects, according to your area(s) of interest.

Scottish Ethnology

Course options typically include:

• Ethnological Fieldwork Methods
• Traditional Narrative
• Traditional Song
• Scotland and Heritage
• Traditional Drama
• Custom, Belief and Community
• Scottish Emigrant Traditions
• The Supernatural World
• Material Culture in Scotland
• Traditional Music

English Literature

If you are particularity interested in writing from and about Scotland, our literature options in the honours years typically include:

• Edinburgh in Fiction
• Haunted Imaginations: Scotland and the Supernatural
• Modern and Contemporary Scottish Poetry

As well as choosing from a very wide range of other literary options, it is also possible to take courses in Reading Theory which will introduce you to key issues, concepts, and developments in literary theory and criticism. You will be encouraged to reflect on the critical reading skills you have gained in your pre-honours years, and given the concepts and vocabulary to develop these further.

Year 4

This is the second of your honours years, when you will continue to specialise by choosing option courses in both subjects.

Building on all the knowledge and skills you have developed over four years, including in independent research, you will also complete a dissertation.

You can write your dissertation for either Scottish Ethnology or English Literature. If opting to write it for Scottish Ethnology, it can be based on either fieldwork or archival work.

Programme structure

Find out more about the compulsory and optional courses in this degree programme.

To give you an idea of what you will study on this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme structure (2024/25)

Our facilities

On campus

When you are on campus, you can expect to spend most of your time in the University of Edinburgh's Central Area - in class, in the library, in the School of Scottish Studies Archives, or in one of the University’s many social and support spaces.

The Central Area is located on the edge of Edinburgh's historic Old Town, surrounded by lots of green space.

Take a virtual tour of the Central Area

Libraries and collections

One of our most notable collections is the School of Scottish Studies Archives, an extensive collection relating to the culture and tradition of Scotland.

The Archives contain thousands of hours of recordings of songs, music, stories, rhyme and verse in Scots, Gaelic and English, as well as dialects now extinct. They also contain photographs and rarely-seen historic documents which capture exceptional and everyday aspects of Scottish culture and heritage.

The Archive's extensive Scottish Studies Library holds important Scottish ethnological, wider ethnological and Celtic material.

You will have access to the University’s rare books and manuscripts, such as:

• the Carmichael-Watson Collection
• the Donald MacKinnon Collection
• the David Laing Collection

The University's other literary treasures include:

• an exceptional collection of early Shakespeare quartos and other early modern printed plays
• the Corson Collection of works by and about Sir Walter Scott

Modern literature and poetry are particularly well represented. Highlights include the W.H. Auden collection and the libraries of:

• Lewis Grassic Gibbon
• Hugh MacDiarmid
• Norman MacCaig

Many of the University's Special Collections are digitised and available online from our excellent Resource Centre, computing labs and dedicated study spaces in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC).

Read our feature on 70 years of the School of Scottish Studies Archives

Centres for research, teaching and outreach

We are home to the European Ethnological Research Centre. The Centre's primary focus is the promotion of research into everyday life and society in Scotland. Our Regional Ethnology of Scotland Project has focused on the role that individuals’ stories and memories play in shaping and understanding history.

Our SWINC project and network promotes awareness of Scottish writing and culture in the 19th century. We are also the Scottish base of The Collected Letters of Thomas and Jane Welsh Carlyle, Duke-Edinburgh edition. This is one of the major editorial projects in Victorian studies of the last half-century.

We are part of the Edinburgh Environmental Humanities Network and have developing strengths in the Digital Humanities. For example, we have led both phases of LitLong. LitLong is a project that digitally maps the ways in which Edinburgh has been used as a literary setting over the course of five centuries.

We are currently working on Decoding Hidden Heritages, which combines qualitative analysis with cutting-edge computational methodologies, to decode, interpret and curate the hidden heritage of Gaelic. Leading a team of five international universities, our researchers come from both Scottish Ethnology and English Literature. The research is funded by the UK–Ireland Collaboration in the Digital Humanities programme.

Events and activities

The Edinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) supports more than 300 student-led societies and clubs, and promotes opportunities with local charities through its volunteering centre.

An Comunn Ceilteach (The Highland Society) is the University’s oldest student society and organises the city’s largest annual cèilidh.

Passionate about music, literature, song and storytelling, we regularly hold events for staff, students and visiting guests to speak, perform or present research.

Across the University, there a lots of opportunities to get involved in:

• reading and writers' groups
• poetry slams
• creative writing and publishing
• student theatre

We have a Traditional Artist and Gaelic Writer in Residence, a composer/musician and a writer who work with staff and students on a range of projects and performances.

Watch, read or listen to an interview with Fraser Fifield, our Traditional Artist in Residence

We also have an additional Writer in Residence in English and Scottish Literature who organises talks and workshops by visiting writers and runs our annual writing prizes. Their drop-in sessions give you the chance to:

• share your work
• get feedback
• meet other student writers
• get inspiration and prompts for new work

Over the past half century, our Writers-in-Residence have included:

• Jenni Fagan
• Liz Lochhead
• Sorley Maclean
• Norman MacCaig
• Michael Pedersen
• Alan Warner

Annual student writing prizes include awards for prose and verse in Lowland Scots vernacular.

In many ways, studying literature and ethnology has helped me creatively with my music. Because you're exposed to so many creative thinkers, your imagination expands, and you develop greater confidence in your own ideas.

• Hector Shaw, Scottish Ethnology and English Literature MA Hons graduate, songwriter and musician

In the city

A UNESCO World City of Literature, Edinburgh is a remarkable place to study, write, publish, discuss and perform prose, poetry and drama.

The city's resources for studying languages and cultures are exceptional. Many of them are located close to the University's Central Area, making them easy to access between classes.

In addition to a fantastic range of publishing houses, bookshops, theatres, and cinemas, you will study near the:

• National Library of Scotland
• National Museum of Scotland
• National Records of Scotland
• Edinburgh Central Library
• Writers’ Museum

We have strong links with the Edinburgh International Book Festival, which annually welcomes around 1,000 authors to our literary city.

In addition to the summer and winter festivals, the city has a lively year-round contemporary cultural scene. From sessions in traditional bars, to events in the Scottish Poetry Library and Scottish Storytelling Centre, there is always something going on.

Study abroad

In Year 3, you may have the opportunity to spend the year studying abroad through the University's international exchange programme. There are also shorter-term and virtual opportunities to study or work abroad throughout the four years, including over the summer months.

What are my options for going abroad?

How will I learn?

University is a place to plan your own goals under expert guidance, study independently and in groups, and reflect upon your learning throughout your degree.

Our approach to learning and teaching is active, inclusive and question driven, so it may be different to your experiences at school. It will help you gain the skills for life after university, and we will guide you through the steps from one phase to the next.

Depending on the size of your year group, and which option courses you take, your classes will typically fall into three categories:

• lectures
• tutorials
• seminars

In addition to these classes, to get the most out of your courses, you will need to read widely.

We make extensive use of our audio and visual resources, and you will also be encouraged to use online materials.

Lectures

Lectures are taken by all students on a course, typically at the same time. They are delivered as interactive presentations which may involve audio-visual material.

Lectures are given by an experienced academic. They are designed to guide you through the background, questions and debates related to the topic you are studying.

Tutorials

Tutorial groups are smaller. They are also led by an academic, but here the emphasis is more on what you think about the topic yourself. So, tutorials are your chance to discuss and expand upon what you have learned in a lecture.

Seminars

Seminars blend features of lectures and tutorials. Again, they are designed to encourage and enable your active participation in learning.

On some courses, you will have seminars instead of lectures, especially in your honours years (Years 3 and 4).

Support

As well as the teaching staff and other staff members you will meet day-to-day, there are lots of ways to get help with your learning, including through the University’s Institute for Academic Development (IAD).

Additionally, the Students’ Association facilitates a peer support scheme for English Literature, bringing together students across year groups to help each other with specific study skills, topics or themes.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed through a combination of coursework, exams and final assessments.

Coursework is generally completed throughout the year, while exams and assessments take place at the end of a teaching block.

Coursework may take a range of forms to give you the opportunity to practice different skills. For example, you may be asked to:

• write an essay, review, blog post, opinion piece or learning journal
• respond to a piece of writing, film, or other media, including through close reading
• give a short talk or presentation
• record a podcast or video
• design a poster or presentation

In your final year, you will also complete a dissertation.

Skills and experience

Graduating with a four-year Master of Arts degree from the University of Edinburgh shows intellectual maturity, resilience, and flexibility.

The combination of Scottish Ethnology and English Literature will give you a nuanced understanding of culture and society and how these shape our world.

The skills you will be able to demonstrate to employers include the ability to:

• understand, analyse and articulate complex issues and concepts
• manage your time to meet deadlines on different types of projects
• work independently and as part of a group

Local and global opportunities

The focus we place on comparative work, and on studying a range of subjects in your first two years, gives you the Intercultural Competence valued by employers around the globe.

Whether you stay in Scotland or move elsewhere when you graduate, this degree will make you stand out.

Recent graduates have gone on to careers in:

• education, outreach, advocacy and training
• publishing, culture, heritage and the arts
• communications, marketing, advertising and public relations
• journalism, broadcasting and media
• politics, policy work, diplomacy, civil service and law
• leisure, tourism and travel

Your transferable humanities skills and Intercultural Competence will also set you apart in sectors such as:

• business, finance and commerce
• research, development and venture acceleration

Further study

The enhanced research skills that you develop on a four-year programme, particularly in your honours years, are valuable assets if you wish to continue studying at postgraduate level.

At the University of Edinburgh, we typically offer a range of taught MSc programmes in English Literature, including Creative Writing and Playwriting.

We also typically offer Masters by Research degrees in both English Literature and Scottish Ethnology. Each of these programmes is a good foundation for a PhD, but is equally of value as a stand-alone qualification.

Beyond literature, cultural study and associated fields, your degree will prepare you for further study in almost any humanities and social science discipline.

Careers advice

Throughout your time with us, we will encourage you to identify and hone your employability skills.

LLC has a dedicated Careers Consultant within the University's excellent Careers Service.

Through our careers service, you can:

• book one-to-one appointments and practice interviews
• access a range of online resources
• attend themed fairs such as the Creative and Cultural Careers Festival

Popular peer support includes Life After LLC, a panel event where you can draw inspiration from our recent graduates.

Be inspired by our alumni

Standard entry requirement

The standard entry requirement is:

• SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S5 or AABB/ABBBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: ABB.
• IB: 34 points with 655 at HL.

Minimum entry requirement

The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:

• SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: ABB.
• IB: 34 points with 655 at HL.

More information for widening access applicants

Required subjects

The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:

• SQA: Highers: English at B.
• A Levels: English Literature or combined English at B.
• IB: HL: English at 5.

Find out more about entry requirements

International applicants

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Entry requirements by country

International Foundation Programme

If you are an international student and your school qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to the University you may be eligible for admission to this degree programme through our International Foundation Programme.

International Foundation Programme

Mature applicants

We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.

Mature applicant qualifications

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

SQA, GCSE and IB

For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:

• SQA National 5 at C
• GCSE at C or 4
• Level 2 Certificate at C
• IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component.We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 162 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 54 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 5 in each component.*

We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the degree you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Oxford ELLT, or Trinity ISE test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the degree begins, regardless of your nationality.

English language requirements

(*Revised 24 May 2024 to change PTE Academic requirement from total 62 with at least 54 in each component, and to clarify that we do not accept PTE Academic online. Revised 29 August 2024 to add Oxford ELLT requirements.)

This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.

It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.

Please note that some programmes do not have Discover Uni data available.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for MA Scottish Ethnology and English Literature

Additional costs

If you choose to write a dissertation for Scottish Ethnology, it may involve some fieldwork, depending on your topic of study. This may mean paying for travel costs.

However, if you prefer, you can select an archive-based project that is unlikely to have any additional costs.

There are likely to be additional costs if you choose to study abroad in Year 3.

Funding

For more information on how much it will cost to study with us and the financial support available see our fees and funding information.

Fees and funding

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