Scottish Literature and History, MA (Hons)

Our joint honours programme in Scottish Literature and History fosters a deep understanding of the contemporary world through critical analysis of diverse texts and historical contexts. By combining these disciplines, students cultivate openness to varied ideas and perspectives, a vital skill for careers in a global marketplace. The Scottish Literature component develops critical, analytical, linguistic, and creative abilities through engagement with a wide array of texts and approaches, beginning with foundational skills in close reading. Students then explore major periods of Scottish literature from the late Middle Ages to today, tailoring honours-year courses to their interests in specific topics, periods, or genres.The History element offers a distinctive range of themes, periods, and regions, from the early Middle Ages to the present, across Britain, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. It encompasses diverse approaches, including political, cultural, social, economic, intellectual, gender, and global history. Based in Edinburgh—the first UNESCO City of Literature—students benefit from exceptional resources like the University’s Special Collections and the National Library of Scotland. As the UK’s oldest department of English and Scottish Literature, we provide flexibility: in years one and two, students select courses from various disciplines alongside core subjects, while honours years allow specialised study based on personal interests, building in-depth knowledge.