Scandinavian Studies and Spanish MA (Hons)

Level: Undergraduate

Subject: Scandinavian Studies

Year of entry: 2026

Key facts

UCAS Code

RR64

Award

MA (Hons)

Duration of study

4 years

Delivery

Full-time

Study location

Central Area

Start date

September 2026

School

School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures

College

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Study abroad

Mandatory

Placement

No

Open days and events

About the degree programme

As a world-leading festival and capital city, Edinburgh is a fantastic place to study languages in their cultural context.

This wide-ranging joint honours programme is your opportunity to study two very different European languages in their diverse cultural contexts.

Spanish is one of the five most widely spoken languages in the world. Through literature and other media, the languages and cultures of Denmark, Norway and Sweden have long had a considerable impact beyond the Nordic region.

Throughout this programme, including a year abroad, you will develop advanced spoken and written skills in Spanish and in either Danish, Norwegian or Swedish. No previous knowledge of any of the languages is required.

While you will specialise in one Scandinavian language, you will also develop a working and social understanding of the other two we teach to degree level.

In tandem with language classes, you will explore aspects of Scandinavian, Spanish and Latin American culture. Courses cover:

  • film
  • literature
  • history
  • politics
  • language
  • linguistics
  • media and cultural production

Why Edinburgh

We are the only university in Scotland, and one of only two in the UK, to offer undergraduate programmes with joint honours in Scandinavian Studies.

As well as being distinctive in our subject offering, we are also unique in Scotland in integrating a full academic year abroad into the four-year honours programme, regardless of whether you spend the year studying or working.

We are the proud home of the Northern Scholars Scheme which fosters cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic countries and Scotland.

Beyond Europe, this programme is your gateway to a great many cultures, societies and career opportunities across Latin America and the Caribbean. Through the Centre for Caribbean and Latin American Studies, we also have excellent links with universities throughout Latin America.

How long it takes to complete this degree programme

This programme is studied over 4 years, including a year abroad. 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 both of your subjects. You will study Spanish and your chosen Scandinavian language (Danish, Norwegian or Swedish) while exploring literature, film, history, and politics of Spanish, Latin American and Scandinavian cultures.

In addition to studying core courses, you will broaden your education and skill set by choosing option courses from a range of subjects and disciplines. This may enable you to change the focus of your programme.

Your final two years will be your honours years. You will spend Year 3 abroad, dividing your time between a country in which Spanish is spoken and either Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Year 4 will be tailored to your interests in specific topics in or approaches to Scandinavian Studies and Spanish.

How a joint degree programme works

You will study both Spanish and Scandinavian Studies to degree level.

Both subjects are based in the department of European Languages and Cultures in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC), and share a number of common courses - especially in Year 2.

Your teaching will take place in and around the main LLC building in the University's Central Area.

During your Year Abroad in Year 3, you will complete assignments for both subjects while using your language skills daily.

Programme rankings

  • 3rd in the UK for Modern Languages
  • 3rd in the UK in the broad subject area of Arts & Humanities

Rankings from QS World Rankings by Subject 2025

Programme benefits

  • Take the only programme of its kind in Scotland.
  • Study over four years, including one abroad.
  • Become fluent in two languages.
  • Try out different subjects in your first two years.
  • Delve into fantastic libraries and collections.
  • Try your hand at creative writing and publishing.

Studying Norwegian, which was my chosen Scandinavian language of the three on offer at the University of Edinburgh, was the best choice I have ever made. The department is full of many kind people who share my passion for Scandinavian Studies. The course starts at beginners level, but by the end of Year 1 I already felt fluent in Norwegian, with the help of amazing tutors, fellow students, and the Scandinavian community here at the University.

Lili Scandinavian Studies and Spanish MA (Hons), graduated 2023

Find your entry requirements

Use the dropdowns to find out your entry requirements.

  1. Select the country or region 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) Scandinavian Studies and Spanish

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

Tuition fees for this programme

Additional costs

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 £1,023 to £2,043 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

See a breakdown of living 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.

Funding

What you will study

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.

You will be also encouraged to take one, or both, of two courses in Scandinavian civilisation. These provide an overview of important trends in the history, society, culture and politics of the Scandinavian and wider Nordic world, from the earliest times to the present. 

Spanish

You will study either Spanish 1A or 1B, depending on your language skills. Typically, students on Spanish 1B come to University with substantially more experience of studying Spanish than students on Spanish 1A.

As well as developing your language skills, both the 1A and 1B courses will introduce you to a diverse selection of cultural texts and films from across the Spanish-speaking 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, such as Basque, Catalan or Portuguese. Like the majority of our languages, these courses are suitable for complete beginners and include cultural study.

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

  • business, economics and informatics
  • politics, social policy, social anthropology and international relations
  • art and architectural history
  • history, classics and archaeology
  • linguistics and language sciences
  • Celtic and Scottish ethnology
  • philosophy, divinity and law
Find courses

The courses you can study will vary from year to year and may be different for your year of entry.

You can get an idea of what you might study by viewing the latest course information for this programme.

Find Year 1 courses (2025-2026 academic year)

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 on 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. 

Spanish

Students of 1A and 1B will come together in our Spanish Language 2 course. This course will help you communicate your ideas in Spanish using more nuanced grammatical structures, vocabulary and syntax. As with Scandinavian Studies, the focus in your language work will be on developing your confidence to study or work abroad in Year 3.

You will also take a further course on the literatures and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. You'll be introduced to different genres and artistic currents which demonstrate how culture has reflected, shaped and contested reality from the 16th century to the present day.

Option courses

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

These option courses include a great selection in European languages and cultures that explore literature, film and theatre in themed and comparative contexts.

Typical option courses include:

  • Cultural Responses to War
  • Migration, Exile, Diaspora
  • Crime and Detection in Literature
  • Gender and Culture 
  • The Coming-of-Age Narrative 
  • Introduction to European Cinema 
  • Dynamics of Language and Power
  • Languages Beyond University

You will likely have the opportunity to study either or both of our Scandinavian civilisation courses, if you haven't already done so in Year 1. Alternatively, you may wish to take a course in Basque or Catalan, furthering your knowledge of Iberian cultures.

Find courses

The courses you can study will vary from year to year and may be different for your year of entry.

You can get an idea of what you might study by viewing the latest course information for this programme.

Find Year 2 courses (2025-2026 academic year)

You will spend Year 3 abroad, dividing your time between two countries. This is when you will really deepen your knowledge of Scandinavian languages and Spanish by speaking them daily and immersing yourself in local cultures.

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

Read our blog post by Spanish student Anu who discovered a passion for teaching yoga on her year abroad

How much time will I spend abroad?

You will spend a minimum of 30 weeks abroad. You will divide your time between a country in which Spanish is spoken and either Sweden, Norway or Denmark.

To give you a balanced experience, you will spend at least eight weeks in each of your two destinations. How you further divide your time abroad is typically based on whether you study, work or combine the two.

Where can I go?

Transforming classroom learning into a lived experience, you will study or work in a Spanish-speaking country as well as either Denmark, Norway or Sweden.

For Spanish, the University has exchange places in a wide variety of universities in Spain and Latin America (Argentina, Chile and Mexico).

If you are considering working abroad, 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.

Study or work?

When you are abroad, you can typically choose to either:

  • study in one or two destinations 
  • work in one or two destinations 
  • study in one destination and work in another

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
  • one semester at two different institutions (in different destinations)

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

Once you have checked if you are eligible to work abroad, and have talked through your plans with us, you might choose to do one or more placements. For example, you could arrange to work with a private company or charity.

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.

Regardless of whether you study or work abroad, you will take e-learning courses in both Spanish and your chosen Scandinavian language to prepare you for your Year 4 language courses. These courses will count as part of your Year 3 marks, alongside any coursework arranged by your host university (if studying abroad).

Depending on your Year Abroad activities, you 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.

You will take advanced classes in:

  • essay, commentary and summary writing in your two languages
  • translation to and from your languages into English
  • spoken Spanish and either Danish, Norwegian or Swedish

In addition to these core courses, you will also choose from a wide range of specialist, honours-level courses on topics such as Scandinavian and Spanish-language:

  • film
  • literature
  • history
  • politics 
  • language
  • linguistics
  • media and cultural production 

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 in either Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or Spanish.

Find courses

The courses you can study will vary from year to year and may be different for your year of entry.

You can get an idea of what you might study by viewing the latest course information for this programme.

Find Year 4 courses (2025-2026 academic year)

Study abroad

You will spend Year 3 (a minimum of 30 weeks) in a Spanish-speaking country and either Denmark, Norway or Sweden. You will spend at least eight weeks in each destination.

This is a chance for you to evolve and grow beyond Edinburgh. Our graduates have told us how much the Year Abroad has benefited their broader life experience and skills.

We know that you are likely to have lots of questions about your Year Abroad. We have gone into lots of detail about where you can go and what you can do under ‘Year 3’ above. You can also find out more through the University's Study and Work Away Service.

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

As well as 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.

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, or in one of the University’s many social and support spaces.

A number of our Spanish courses have developed online resources to complement the core materials. These resources are designed to be accessible from home, or from the campus' excellent computing facilities.

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

The Main University Library holds academic books, journals and databases, films, newspapers and other media. Its holdings include around:

  • 27,000 books and 5,000 journals in Spanish
  • 7,500 titles in Swedish
  • 5,400 titles in Danish
  • 3,600 titles in Norwegian

The Library is also the home of the University's Centre for Research Collections which brings together:

  • more than 400,000 rare books
  • six kilometres of archives and manuscripts
  • thousands of works of art, historical musical instruments and other objects

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).

Centres for research, teaching and outreach

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

We also play a key role in the Centre for Caribbean and Latin American Studies at the University. It brings together staff and students from a number of different subject areas, including:

  • film, media and art
  • geography
  • politics
  • history
  • social anthropology
  • linguistics

Since 2023, we have hosted the first extension of the Cervantes Institute in Scotland. Established in 1991, the Cervantes Institute is a non-profit organisation that promotes, supports, and celebrates Spanish-language literature, film, art, and cultures through a range of events and activities for students and the public.

Career paths

Skills and experience

Studying languages 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, you will also gain a nuanced understanding of diverse cultures and societies.

Graduating with a four-year Master of Arts degree from the University of Edinburgh shows intellectual maturity, resilience, 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

Opportunities across sectors

Combining a Scandinavian language with Spanish, you will be one of very few graduates from UK universities specialising in Spanish, a major world language, as well as Danish, Norwegian or Swedish.

Speakers of one Scandinavian language are widely understood across the Nordic region, while Spanish extends your reach to much of Latin America, the Caribbean and growing numbers of speakers across the US. As a graduate of this programme, you will therefore be well-placed to work in a wide range of countries.

Increasing migration in response to changing global dynamics means that, wherever you are based in the world, the ability to understand and communicate in your chosen languages will make you stand out.

Within the private, public, not-for-profit, and for-benefit sectors, previous language graduates have gone on to career pathways in:

  • business, finance, commerce and tech
  • communications, marketing, advertising and public relations
  • education, outreach, advocacy and training
  • journalism, broadcasting and media
  • leisure, tourism and travel
  • politics, policy work, diplomacy, civil service and law
  • publishing, culture, heritage and the arts
  • research, development, consultancy and venture acceleration
  • translating and interpreting

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 Scandinavian Studies and Spanish
  • 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 you will develop on a four-year programme, particularly in your honours years, are a valuable asset if you wish to continue studying at postgraduate level.

At the University, we typically offer:

  • Masters by Research programmes in:
    • Scandinavian Studies
    • Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies
  • taught masters programmes in:
    • Comparative Literature
    • Intermediality
    • Translation Studies

Any of these programmes is a good foundation for a PhD, but is equally of value as a stand-alone qualification.

Graduate profiles

I don’t have a background in journalism, but the fact that I had a degree in Scandinavian Studies more than made up for this when I applied for my current job. It’s such an unusual degree, and so difficult [for employers] to find native-English speakers who can communicate well and are also fluent in a Scandinavian language.

Becky Waterton German and Scandinavian Studies MA (Hons), 2017

Becky started Danish as a complete beginner in her first year with us and now lives and works in Sweden. She is Deputy Editor of The Local, a news platform with sites in nine European countries including Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

Read our interview with Becky

How to apply

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

Guidance on applying through UCAS

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.

How we select applicants

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.

Search degrees that are open on the UCAS website

Key application dates and deadlines

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.  

Find out more about applying 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. 

Applying for a visa  

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.  

Find contact details for an education agent

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.

Minju Kim LLC graduate (2024)

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 Scandinavian Studies and Spanish, 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.

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

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

Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place

Societies and clubs

The Edinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) supports more than 300 student-led societies and clubs, including the Scandinavian Society and Spanish Society.

From acting to dancing, making friends in language cafes to campaigning on global issues, these student-led groups offer lots of ways to explore your subjects, interests and talents socially. EUSA also promotes opportunities with local charities through its volunteering centre.

If you love to write, our online creative writing magazine Babble is the place to publish your:

  • prose
  • poetry
  • drama
  • non-fiction

Babble goes out twice a year and includes work written in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish and five other European languages. 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. The city's resources for studying literatures, languages 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 of Scotland, which has an outstanding collection of early modern Spanish material
  • the 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's world cinema scene is particularly strong, and we are proud to contribute to its success through collaborations with festivals such as IberoDocs.

Spain has a consulate in Edinburgh, and there is a large community of Spanish speakers. The city also 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.

Find out more about living in Edinburgh

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

Health and wellbeing support services

Contact us

Contact us through our enquiry team if you have any questions about this programme.

Open days, events and visits

Find out when our next open days will be taking place

Open days, events and visits

Chat to our students on Unibuddy

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It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.

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