The University of Edinburgh
Scottish Ethnology and English Literature MA (Hons)
The University of Edinburgh

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews of 150 graduates of Scottish Ethnology and English Literature MA (Hons) and other courses in literature in English at The University of Edinburgh for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in literature in English.

Overall student satisfaction
72 /100
150 total respondents

Primarily based on data from undergraduate degree students.

The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in literature in English

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of literature in English at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £24000 £23500 £27500
25-75 percentile range £22000 - £28000 £18500 - £29000 £22500 - £36000


Salary of all UK Graduates of literature in English

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £23158 £21500 £25635
25-75 percentile range £20071 - £26214 £16503 - £26311 £19271 - £32000

Course Description

This innovative joint honours programme combines two related yet distinct approaches to the study of human cultural expression, past and present.

Based in the first UNESCO World City of Literature, and drawing on world-leading resources such as the School of Scottish Studies Archives, it is the only full undergraduate programme of its kind in the UK.

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?

A highlight of our programme is the chance to work with the rich range of materials in the School of Scottish Studies Archives and Scottish Studies Library.

You will explore the work of former staff and students who, since 1951, have been capturing elements of life in Scotland's farming and fishing communities, towns and cities.

Today, the Archives run to:

  • 33,000 recordings of songs, music, stories, rhyme and verse in Scots, Gaelic and English, as well as in dialects now extinct
  • thousands of photographs and rarely-seen historic documents which capture exceptional and everyday aspects of Scottish culture and heritage

These materials are kept alive through our teaching, undergraduate and postgraduate research, and through the work of our Traditional Artist and Gaelic Writer in Residence.

English Literature

Edinburgh is a remarkable place to study, write, publish, discuss and perform prose, poetry and drama. From the University's Special Collections to the National Library of Scotland, the city's resources for studying literature are exceptional.

We are the oldest department of English and Scottish Literature in the UK, one of the longest-established in the world. Study with us, and you will gain the essential skills needed for the critical close reading of poetry, drama and prose.

In Years 1 and 2, in addition to building your close reading skills, you will explore the cultural contexts of writing in English from the late Middle Ages to the present.

At honours level, Years 3 and 4, you will select courses on the basis of your own interests in specific topics, periods or genres of literary study.

Develop skills for a range of careers

Scottish Ethnology gives you a nuanced understanding of culture and society, and how these shape our world. Studying literature prepares you to contribute to a society in which an understanding of texts of all kinds is crucially important.

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.

As our pre-honours years are very flexible, you will also gain intercultural competencies in other areas of the arts, humanities and social sciences.

Combining literature with ethnology shows an openness to ideas and perspectives other than your own, an essential attribute in many careers and a global marketplace.

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

Current jobs

Required skill level of job after 15 months

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Scottish Ethnology and English Literature MA (Hons) at The University of Edinburgh

25% Conservation and environment professionals
14% Business and public service associate professionals
12% Media Professionals
11% Protective service occupations
8% Managers, directors and senior officials
6% Administrative occupations
5% Elementary occupations
3% Caring personal services
3% Business, Research and Administrative Professionals
3% Protective service occupations

Grading & Study Time

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for literature in English

Qualification requirements

Scottish Higher qualifications are considered on an individual basis

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.

English language requirements

test Grade Additional Details
IELTS (Academic) 6.5

Total 65 with at least 5.5 in each component.

TOEFL (iBT) 92

Total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.

Cambridge English Advanced

Total 176 with at least 162 in each component

Cambridge English Proficiency

Total 176 with at least 162 in each component

Trinity ISE

ISE II with distinctions in all four components

PTE Academic 62

Total 62 with at least 54 in each component

Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Scottish Ethnology and English Literature, MA (Hons), if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Costs

Tuition Fees Scottish Ethnology and English Literature MA (Hons)

Channel Islands £9250 year 1
Ireland £9250 year 1
Scotland £1820 year 1
England UK £9250 year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 year 1
Wales £9250 year 1
EU £26500 year 1
International £26500 year 1

Additional fee information

Scottish students must apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for payment of their tuition fees.

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.

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

How to apply

Application deadline:

January 1, 2025

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.

Possible Entry Points:

  • year 1 (Default entry point)

University Rankings

Positions of The University of Edinburgh in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of The University of Edinburgh in related subject specific rankings.

Social Studies & Humanities

    • #1 
    • #40 
    Social Sciences
    NTU Rankings by Subject
    [Published 11 July, 2023]

See all 38 university rankings of The University of Edinburgh

About The University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh is located in the Scottish city of the same name, and is one of the oldest universities in the entire United Kingdom, having opened in the year 1583. The university enjoys a strong reputation for its contributions to international research efforts, which is reflected in their inclusion in the Russell Group, Universitas 21, and Una Europa. Edinburgh offers its residents a historic yet modern city, with a lively nightlife scene, reliable public transport, and friendly locals.

List of 686 Bachelor and Master Courses from The University of Edinburgh - Course Catalogue

Where is this programme taught

Central area campus
map marker Show on map

Similar courses

Program University Student satis­faction Unem­ployed Drop­out Tuition (UK) Tuition (Inter­national) UCAS Tariff City
Philosophy and English Literature MA (Hons) The University of Edinburgh 71% 3% 5% £9250 £26500 186 Edinburgh On campus Full-time
Scandinavian Studies and English Literature MA (Hons) The University of Edinburgh 71% 3% 1% £9250 £26500 179 Edinburgh On campus Full-time
Portuguese and English Literature MA (Hons) The University of Edinburgh 71% 3% 1% £9250 £26500 182 Edinburgh On campus Full-time
History of Art and English Literature MA (Hons) The University of Edinburgh 82% 0% 0% £9250 £26500 161 Edinburgh On campus Full-time
English Literature and Classics MA (Hons) The University of Edinburgh 71% 3% 0% £9250 £26500 182 Edinburgh On campus Full-time
Religious Studies and English Literature MA (Hons) The University of Edinburgh 71% 3% 1% £9250 £26500 185 Edinburgh On campus Full-time
Persian and English Literature MA (Hons) The University of Edinburgh 71% 3% 1% £9250 £26500 180 Edinburgh On campus Full-time
Celtic and English Literature MA (Hons) The University of Edinburgh 61% 3% 1% £9250 £26500 183 Edinburgh On campus Full-time
Spanish and English Literature MA (Hons) The University of Edinburgh 71% 3% 0% £9250 £26500 199 Edinburgh On campus Full-time
English Literature MA (Hons) The University of Edinburgh 66% 3% 1% £9250 £26500 186 Edinburgh On campus Full-time