Undergraduate study | Scottish Studies

Scottish Studies is a single honours, four-year Master of Arts (MA) degree drawing on a variety of subject areas and disciplines across the University of Edinburgh. The programme is very flexible, giving you a broad knowledge base and transferable skills. 

Years 1 & 2

• In your first two years, you'll study a mix of core courses in Scottish Studies, your choice of courses on history, literature, language, or civilisation, and further option courses chosen from a wide range of subjects. These can be related or unrelated to Scotland - it's up to you. 

Years 3 & 4

• You’ll typically spend your third year in Edinburgh - though it’s possible to study elsewhere through the University’s Study Abroad programme. 
• You will learn how to undertake your own research to the level of completing a dissertation in your final year. This is your chance to focus on a topic, period or discipline that’s of particular interest to you. We have an extensive range of honours courses to choose from.

Location

• You'll be part of a close-knit teaching and learning community in one of the University of Edinburgh's largest and most diverse Schools. You’ll typically be based at the heart of the University, in the city’s historic centre, close to the National Library of Scotland, National Museum of Scotland, Scottish Storytelling Centre, and Scottish Parliament.
• The Main University Library is just across the square from us, as is the School of Scottish Studies Archives where resources include some 33,000 audio recordings, thousands of photographs from the 1930s onwards, films, videos, and manuscripts. We are also a short walk from St Cecilia's Hall, the University's Concert Room and Music Museum.

Teaching and learning

• Our approach to learning and teaching is active, inclusive and question driven to help you gain skills for life after university.
• Across your courses, you’ll typically be taught in a combination of lectures, tutorials and seminars. On some courses, you will have seminars instead of lectures, especially in your honours years.
• You will also be expected to study independently and in small groups, and to read widely.

Assessment and support

• You’ll be assessed through a combination of coursework and exams. 
• Coursework may take a range of forms to give you the opportunity to practice different skills. 
• Depending on what you do and where you go, Year 3 may include being assessed, in part, by a host university.
• As well as the teaching and other staff 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 and Edinburgh University Students' Association

Scottish Studies ​​​​is a single honours degree. If you’d like to study on this programme, you must apply through UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. 

The UCAS site will show you if Scottish Studies remains open for application for 2025 entry.

Search the UCAS website for our Scottish Studies programme

If you have applied to start Scottish Studies with us in September 2025, check out our applicant website for 2025 entry.

Visit the applicant website for Celtic and Scottish Studies

Keen to get a head start for 2026?

There’s lots of information about our undergraduate Scottish Studies programme on the University of Edinburgh Degree Finder. 

For example, you can find out about:

• the courses you will take each year
• how you will be taught and assessed
• the support we offer
• entrance requirements
• English language requirements
• fees and funding opportunities
• student societies and living in Edinburgh

Find out more about Scottish Studies on Degree Finder 2026

Applications for 2026 entry open in September 2025.