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Scottish Ethnology and Scandinavian Studies at The University of Edinburgh - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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Course summary

There has long been a strong Scandinavian influence on Scotland and the wider Celtic world. This innovative joint honours programme gives you the chance to study neighbouring northern European nations which have taken differing routes to modernity, both socially and politically. You will explore Scotland and Scandinavia through their literatures, languages and cultures. Highlights of the programme include:

  • working with the rich range of materials in the School of Scottish Studies Archives
  • learning either Danish, Swedish or Norwegian
  • studying or working abroad in Year 3
Scottish Ethnology Ethnology is the study of the culture and traditions of developed societies. It is sometimes described as being at the intersection where history and anthropology meet. Focusing on Scotland, but also looking at comparative material from elsewhere, you will study the varying ways in which a modern European nation expresses itself culturally. The programme explores questions like:
  • how do customs, beliefs, social organisation, language, music and song help to create and shape identity in the modern world?
  • how do we use and make sense of the past from within our present?
  • how can this understanding help us to shape our future?
Through the School of Scottish Studies Archives, you can access thousands of hours of recordings of songs, music, stories, rhyme and verse in Scots, Gaelic and English, as well as in dialects now extinct. Scandinavian Studies The languages of Scandinavia, like its politics and culture, have had a considerable impact beyond the Nordic world. The region's screen and literary cultures attract global critical acclaim, and the socio-economic concept of the Nordic Model is widely studied. On our programme, you have the opportunity to develop advanced spoken and written language skills in modern Danish, Norwegian or Swedish while exploring aspects of Scandinavian and wider Nordic culture, past and present. You do not currently need to know a Scandinavian language, as courses are available for beginners. While you will specialise in one language, you will also develop an understanding of the other two we teach to degree level and can choose to explore their similarities and differences. You will spend Year 3 in either Denmark, Norway or Sweden gaining lived experience of Scandinavian culture. Develop skills for a range of careers Both sides of this unique joint honours programme give you a nuanced understanding of culture and society, and how these shape our world. Graduating in this combination shows an openness to ideas and perspectives other than your own, an essential attribute in many careers and a global marketplace. Over the course of your four years with us, you will gain the practical and intellectual tools to handle and interpret traditional resources, modern media and digital data. You will also learn a language. As our pre-honours years are very flexible, you will also gain intercultural competencies in other areas of the arts, humanities and social sciences.

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
VR96
Institution code:
E56
Campus name:
Central area campus
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Standard Qualification Requirements

For degrees that have a subject requirement of a language other than English, students may not use their own native language to meet this requirement. In these instances, English or an alternative language other than native will be acceptable. Detailed entry requirements, including typical offer levels, and information about other qualifications we accept, are available on the University of Edinburgh’s website. You’ll also find important information on how to apply. You must submit a fully completed UCAS application that includes details of the qualifications you are taking, including full predicted grades for qualifications not yet completed, your personal statement and your reference.

Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course

https://www.ed.ac.uk/ug/VR96

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Please click the following link to find out more about minimum qualification requirements for this course

https://www.ed.ac.uk/ug/VR96

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6.5Total 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)92Total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
Cambridge English AdvancedTotal 176 with at least 162 in each component.
Cambridge English ProficiencyTotal 176 with at least 162 in each component.
Trinity ISEISE II with distinctions in all four components.
PTE Academic65Total 65 with at least 54 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies. 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; SQA Standard Grade at 3; SQA Intermediate 1 at A; SQA Intermediate 2 at C; GCSE/IGSCE at C or 4; Level 2 Certificate Grade C or IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry). 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 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.

Full details of our English language requirements can be found on our website:

https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/entry-requirements/english-language

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
71%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
83%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Scotland £1820 Year 1
EU £28000 Year 1
International £28000 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Scottish students must apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for payment of their tuition fees. England/Wales/Northern Ireland - Due to UK Government announcements in relation to RUK Undergraduate Fees the UoE UG RUK fee will be confirmed later in 2024. EU On 9th July 2020 the decision was made by the Scottish Government to end free university tuition for European Union (EU) students starting in 2021-22. Funding policy for EU nationals and associated groups starting a course of study in academic year 2022-23 or later will be in line with international fees. Full time international and EU students will pay a fixed annual fee rate for the duration of their programme
Scottish Ethnology and Scandinavian Studies at The University of Edinburgh - UCAS