English and Scottish Literature, MA (Hons)

Edinburgh stands as the first UNESCO World City of Literature, a vibrant hub that has inspired numerous luminaries in English, Scottish, and global literature.This programme enhances critical, analytical, linguistic, and creative abilities through engagement with diverse texts and reading methods. Students examine the cultural contexts of English writing from the late Middle Ages to the present, alongside key periods of Scottish literature, with opportunities to specialise in specific topics, periods, or genres at honours level. Studying literature equips individuals to engage meaningfully in society, fostering openness to varied ideas and perspectives—vital for careers in a global context.Edinburgh offers an exceptional environment for literary study, writing, publishing, and performance, as home to the UK's oldest department of English and Scottish Literature. Notable Writers-in-Residence have included Jenni Fagan, Liz Lochhead, Sorley MacLean, Norman MacCaig, Michael Pedersen, and Alan Warner. Access to resources like the University's Special Collections and the National Library of Scotland enriches the experience, while the programme's flexibility allows students to select courses from various disciplines in Years 1 and 2 before specialising in later years.