About the degree programme

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's past and present, giving you a nuanced understanding of culture and society and how these shape our world.

Highlights of this programme include:

  • working with the rich range of materials in the School of Scottish Studies Archives
  • handling and interpreting traditional resources, modern media and digital data
  • learning either Danish, Swedish or Norwegian
  • studying or working abroad in Year 3, gaining lived experience of Scandinavian culture

Graduating in this combination of subjects shows an openness to ideas and perspectives other than your own, an essential attribute in many careers and a global marketplace.

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 such as:

  • 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 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 this programme, you will:

  • develop advanced spoken and written language skills in modern Danish, Norwegian or Swedish
  • explore aspects of Scandinavian and wider Nordic culture, past and present

You do not currently need to know a Scandinavian language, as courses are designed 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.

How long it takes to complete this degree programme

This programme is studied over 4 years. This enables us to build choice and flexibility into your studies, giving you time to explore options, find what you like and build your skills.

Your first two years will be your pre-honours years. They will give you a good grounding in your subjects. In addition to your core courses, you will broaden your education and skill set by choosing option courses from a range of disciplines. This gives you the chance to build your intercultural awareness in other areas of the arts, humanities, social sciences and beyond.

Your final two years will be your honours years. You will spend Year 3 in either Sweden, Norway or Denmark, gaining lived experience of Scandinavian culture. Year 4 will be tailored to your interests in specific topics or approaches to Scottish Ethnology and Scandinavian Studies. You will also further develop your language and translation skills.

How a joint degree programme works

You will study both Scottish Ethnology and Scandinavian Studies to degree level, as well as taking optional courses in Years 1 and 2.

Within Scandinavian Studies, you will specialise in one of three languages: Danish, Norwegian or Swedish.

Both Scottish Ethnology and Scandinavian Studies are based in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) and your teaching will take place in and around the main LLC building in the University's Central Area.

On your Year Abroad, you will complete assignments for both subjects while using your Scandinavian language skills daily.

Programme rankings

  • 3rd in the UK for Modern Languages
  • 3rd in the UK in the Arts & Humanities

Rankings from QS World Rankings by Subject 2025

Programme benefits

  • Take the only programme of its kind in the world.
  • Learn in the heart of Scotland's capital city.
  • Be inspired by traditional musicians, composers and storytellers.
  • Delve into fantastic libraries, archives and collections.
  • Try out different subjects in your first two years.
  • Join societies related to what you are studying.

Find your entry requirements

Use the dropdowns to find out your entry requirements.

  1. Select the country where you are studying or where you studied your qualification.
  2. Select the qualification you are studying or studied.
United Kingdom,

Tuition fees for MA (Hons) Scottish Ethnology and Scandinavian Studies

View the tuition fees for one academic year of MA (Hons) Scottish Ethnology and Scandinavian Studies.

Additional costs

Fieldwork

Depending on the courses you choose for Scottish Ethnology, you may have opportunities to take part in fieldwork and excursions. The costs involved in taking part in fieldwork will vary according to the location.

Study Abroad

As long as international travel is possible, you will spend Year 3 abroad. The costs you have to pay will depend on where you decide to go, and how you spend your time.

Some study placements at language schools may charge a fee, but we will normally refund you for tuition costs as long as your activity has been approved.

You will be responsible for associated travel costs such as flights and visas.

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that a single student can potentially spend a maximum of £920 to £2,257 on living costs each month, depending on your accommodation.

This estimate covers the costs of:

  • accommodation
  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel within Edinburgh
  • health and wellbeing costs

Scholarships and funding

Funding information

You can find detailed information on financial support available, based on where you are living, in our funding section.

What you will study

Scottish Ethnology

You will study the following courses:

  • Conceptualising Scotland
  • Creating Scotland
Conceptualising Scotland

This course will introduce you to the study of culture, society and tradition in Scotland.

You will explore competing conceptions and images of the nation through the study of:

  • 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

This course is an exploration of Scotland's topographical, social and cultural features and their influence on each other over time.

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. You will also learn how to use appropriate academic sources and methods.

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

Scandinavian Studies

You will take an intensive beginners' language course in either Danish, Norwegian or Swedish. You will develop your spoken and written language skills, and study aspects of literature and culture. 

During Years 1 and 2, you will be also encouraged to take one, or both, of two courses in Scandinavian Civilisation:

  • Scandinavian Civilisation A: Vikings, Sagas and the Road to Enlightenment
  • Scandinavian Civilisation B: From National Romanticism to the Nordic Model, from the earliest times to the present

Together, these provide an overview of important trends in the history, society, culture and politics of the Scandinavian and wider Nordic world.

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 another language in its cultural context. This includes reading literature written in that language, starting with short texts, and allows you to access a broad range of original material in the University collections.

We offer one of the widest ranges of languages of any UK university, including Scottish Gaelic, other European languages, and languages from East Asia and the Middle East. The majority are suitable for complete beginners.

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

  • Celtic civilisation
  • art and architectural history
  • history, classics and archaeology
  • business, economics and informatics
  • politics, social policy, social anthropology and international relations
  • linguistics and language sciences
  • philosophy, divinity and law
Find Year 1 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

Scottish Ethnology

You will study the following courses:

  • Scotland and Orality
  • Visualising Scotland
Scotland and Orality

This course takes an ethnological approach to verbal expression using Scotland's rich song and oral narrative traditions.

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

This course is a critical examination of the way Scotland has portrayed itself, and been portrayed by others, through visual media.

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
Scandinavian Studies 

You will continue with Danish Language 2, Norwegian Language 2 or Swedish Language 2, building on your linguistic knowledge from Year 1.

You will move on to using more complex grammar, fine-tuning your pronunciation and building on your vocabulary so that you feel confident in expressing yourself during your Year Abroad in Year 3.

You will also take further courses in Scandinavian literature and languages. You can, for example, choose to develop your skills in understanding the similarities and differences between Danish, Norwegian and Swedish.

Option courses

As in Year 1, you will also choose option courses from a wide range offered by the University.

You will likely have the opportunity to study either or both of our Scandinavian civilisation courses, if you have not already done so in Year 1.

Find Year 2 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

This is the first of your honours years. It is also your Year Abroad - the year in which you will deepen your knowledge of Danish, Norwegian or Swedish by speaking it daily and immersing yourself in Scandinavian culture.

Living abroad will also give you the wider perspective, experience and skills to embrace the opportunities and challenges of life after university.

How much time will I spend abroad?

You will spend a minimum of 30 weeks in Norway, Sweden or Denmark.

You might be able to divide your time between two destinations; if so, to give you a balanced experience, you will spend at least eight weeks in each place. How you further divide your time abroad is normally based on whether you study, work or combine the two.

Where can I go?

Transforming classroom learning into lived experience, you will study or work in a country where your chosen Scandinavian language is spoken.

If you choose to study, you will take classes at one or two of the universities where we have available exchange opportunities. This means that you will spend either:

  • two semesters at a single institution 
    or
  • one semester at two different institutions (in different destinations)

A work placement is another way to gain an international perspective, build professional networks and prepare you for your career after university.

If you are considering working abroad, it is possible to do so in Denmark, Sweden or Norway. The first step is to start thinking about where you would like to go. Visa requirements and application processes vary between countries, so it is a good idea to find out what documentation you will need and whether you are eligible to get it.

Whatever you decide to do, your time abroad is a chance for you to evolve and grow beyond Edinburgh. It adds an international dimension to your studies, showing future employers that you are open to new ideas and experiences.

Coursework while abroad

We will aim to ensure your experience abroad is as beneficial as possible to your final year, as well as to your wider language learning and cultural awareness.

For the Scottish Ethnology side of your programme, a supervisor in Edinburgh will guide you through a reading list and you will write two essays. Alternatively, if you are studying at a university offering ethnology courses, you can opt to take those.

Additionally, you will take an e-learning course in either Danish, Swedish or Norwegian to prepare you for your Year 4 language courses. This course will count as part of your Year 3 marks, alongside any coursework arranged by your host university (if studying abroad).

Depending on what you intend to do in Year 4, you might also begin preparing for your dissertation while abroad, guided by your dissertation supervisor.

Keeping in touch

While you are abroad as part of your programme, you are still a student at the University of Edinburgh.

The Year Abroad Office and your Student Adviser, both based in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC), will check in with you at key points during your time away. Additionally, each language has a dedicated Year Abroad Coordinator for any academic queries, ensuring you are all set and ready for your final year in Edinburgh.

Just like any other time during your studies, you have access to all University services while you are abroad. These include our:

  • Student Wellbeing Service
  • Student Counselling
  • Student Disability and Learning Support
  • University emergency helpline (available 24 hours a day)
Wellbeing and safety

Your wellbeing and safety abroad is our first priority. If international travel is not possible or placements are disrupted, for example following travel advice from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), we will offer you alternative ways to engage with your studies. These will be tailored towards supporting you to meet your learning outcomes and to prepare for your final year.

Find Year 3 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

This is the second of your honours years. You will take advanced language classes in:

  • essay, commentary and summary writing in Danish, Norwegian or Swedish
  • translation from the Scandinavian languages into English
  • spoken Danish, Norwegian or Swedish

Additionally, you will choose specialist, honours-level courses in both Scottish Ethnology and Scandinavian Studies.

For Scottish Ethnology, courses to choose from 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 

For Scandinavian Studies, they typically include:

  • Old Norse Literature and Society
  • Viking Studies 
  • Nynorsk
  • Scandinavia and the World: Negotiating the North in the 21st Century
  • Contemporary Scandinavian Literature: A Transnational Approach
  • History of the Scandinavian Novel
  • Identity, Colonialism and Politics in Contemporary Nordic Society

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

Find Year 4 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

Study abroad

You will spend Year 3 abroad (a minimum of 30 weeks), studying or working in Denmark, Norway or Sweden.

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?

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

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. 

Language tutorials give you the opportunity to develop your linguistic skills in a range of real-world tasks under the supervision of an experienced language teacher.

These classes typically cover skills such as reading, writing, listening and speaking - all of which involve learning and applying grammar.

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 Year 4.

Assessment

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

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

Coursework will 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

Exams will include oral exams to test your spoken language skills.

Depending on where you go and what you do on your Year Abroad, Year 3 may include being assessed, in part, by a host university.

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

Support for your studies

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). Peer support schemes bring together students across year groups to help each other with specific study skills, topics or themes.

Our academic staff

Meet Lori! She’s a traditional musician, composer and lecturer in Scottish Ethnology. Hear how she made the choice to study Scottish music in its cultural context and how she’s inspired by Edinburgh’s trad scene and the city’s international buzz. Find out what she can’t live without… and listen to a wee tune on a very old fiddle.

In the Hot Seat - Lori Watson

Where you will study

Study location

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.

Academic facilities

Libraries and collections

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

The Archives include:

  • thousands of hours of recordings of songs, music, stories, rhyme and verse in Scots, Gaelic and English, as well as in dialects now extinct
  • 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, including:

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

The Main University Library holds academic books, journals and databases, films, newspapers and other media. Its holdings include around 7,500 titles in Swedish, 5,400 in Danish, and 3,600 in Norwegian.

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, whose primary focus is the promotion of research into everyday life and society in Scotland. Ongoing since 2011, our Regional Ethnology of Scotland Project focuses on the role that individuals’ stories and memories play in shaping and understanding history.

We are currently working on the Decoding Hidden Heritages project. Combining qualitative analysis with computational methods, we are leading a team of five international universities to decode, interpret and curate the hidden heritages of Gaelic traditional narrative.

We are proud to host the Northern Scholars Scheme which fosters cooperation between scholars of the Nordic countries, the Baltic countries and Scotland, largely through events such as:

  • public lectures
  • workshops 
  • the involvement of visiting guests in teaching and learning activities

Career paths

Skills and experience 

Studying ethnology with a language to degree level demonstrates that you are a good communicator, and someone open to other cultures and new ideas - what employers value as intercultural competence.

Beyond the language skills you will develop on this joint honours programme, you will also gain a nuanced understanding of different cultures and societies.

Graduating with a four-year Master of Arts degree from the University of Edinburgh shows high-level intellectual strength and flexibility.

The skills you will be able to demonstrate to employers when you graduate 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

As there are relatively few graduates from UK universities specialising in the Scandinavian languages, there are excellent opportunities for those who do learn Danish, Norwegian or Swedish. 

Speakers of one Scandinavian language are widely understood in all Scandinavian countries, and both Swedish and Danish are official working languages of the EU.

Whether you stay in Scotland, move to Scandinavia, or go elsewhere in the world 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
  • journalism, broadcasting and media
  • politics, policy work, diplomacy, civil service and law
  • leisure, tourism and travel
  • translating and interpreting

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

  • business, finance, commerce and tech
  • communications, marketing, advertising and public relations
  • research, development, consultancy and venture acceleration

Careers Service

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

Through the University's excellent Careers Service, you can:

  • get careers advice tailored towards ethnology, languages and cultures
  • book one-to-one appointments and practice interviews
  • access a range of online resources
  • attend events and themed fairs such as the Creative and Cultural Careers Festival
  • get help finding work while you study and for around two years after you graduate

The Careers Service is also a partner in Life After LLC, a panel event where you can draw inspiration from recent graduates of programmes in literatures, languages and cultures.

Visit the Careers Service website

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:

  • Masters by Research programmes in:
    • Scottish Ethnology
    • Scandinavian Studies
  • taught masters programmes in:
    • Comparative Literature
    • Translation Studies
    • Film, Exhibition and Curation

Any of our masters degrees, whether research-based or taught, is a good foundation for a PhD, but is equally of value as a stand-alone qualification.

How to apply

You must submit a full application through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) before the relevant deadline.

What you need to apply

As part of your application, you will need:

  • your academic qualifications
  • a personal statement
  • evidence of your English language skills (with relevant qualifications)
  • a reference

How we select

If you have met, or are predicted to meet, all our entry requirements by the relevant deadline, then your application will go into our selection process.

As part of this selection process, we will review all the information you submit in your UCAS application when we decide who to select for this degree programme.

When to apply

  • 2026 entry UCAS deadline: 14 January 2026 (6:00pm GMT)

This is the deadline for all UK, EU and international applicants to non-medicine and veterinary medicine programmes.

To find out if any degree programmes have spaces after 14 January 2026, search the University of Edinburgh on the UCAS website.

After you apply

After you have applied for your degree programme, we suggest you have a look at the following information to help you prepare for university:

Applying as an international student

As an international student, you apply for this degree programme through UCAS.  

Visas and immigration 

If you do not have the right to live in the UK, you will need to apply for and secure a Student visa before the start date of your degree programme.  

Our Student Immigration Service can help you with the Student visa application process. 

Agents  

An education agent is someone who can help you with the application process as an international student. 

We work with education agents around the world and have a list of local offices you can contact.  

What our students say

I think what makes Edinburgh special is that there is so much to do whatever your interests are! Whether you enjoy hiking, relaxing in a café, socialising with friends, or literally anything else, you will never run out of options here.

In her final year studying languages at Edinburgh, Minju served as the Undergraduate Representative for the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures. Together with Programme Representatives for Scottish Ethnology and Scandinavian Studies, Undergraduate Representatives are your voice in the university - sharing your feedback to continually improve the student experience for everyone. Their roles are supported by the Edinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA).

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single undergraduate students from outside Edinburgh. To be eligible, you need to meet all criteria and apply for accommodation by 16 August in the year of your entry to the University.

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Societies and clubs

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. There is also a Scandinavian Society.

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

We also 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 publish creative writing in nine European languages - including Norwegian, Swedish and Danish - in our online magazine, Babble. You can get involved in the editorial committee, and launch nights typically include readings and performances.

Societies

Sports clubs

The city of Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a world-leading festival city filled with cinemas, theatres, galleries, libraries and collections. Its resources for studying ethnology and cultures are exceptional.

Many national collections are located close to the University's Central Area, making them easy to access between classes. Highlights include the National Library and National Museum of Scotland, where links between Scandinavia and Scotland are evident in stand-out artefacts such as the Lewis Chess Pieces, likely made in medieval Norway.

The city retains excellent links with the Nordic nations, and among its hidden treasures is the Swedish Viking Age runestone situated outside our building at 50 George Square.

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.

What's great about Edinburgh?

Lori Watson, a traditional musician, composer and lecturer in Scottish Ethnology, tells you what to look and listen out for…

Edinburgh is...

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include:

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustment