MA Philosophy and Scottish Literature
About this course
MA (Hons) in Philosophy and Scottish Literature, an English Literature and Philosophy degree exploring the intersection of philosophical inquiry and Scottish literary traditions. Core topics include Research Methods. At honours level, students complete an independent dissertation or a coursework dissertation. The first year covers introductory foundations through morality and value, history of philosophy, poetry and drama. The second year focuses on epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of language and philosophy of mind. The third year advances into specialised study through modules such as beauty and art, political philosophy, Haunted Imaginations: Scotland and the Supernatural and Contemporary Scottish Fiction. The final year centres on an independent dissertation, consisting of a single extended essay on a topic of your choice in philosophy or Scottish literature, or a coursework dissertation through two extended essays in philosophy.
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Entry requirements
A level: from A*A*A to AAB (required: English Literature or combined English at B) IB: from 36 points with 665 at HL to 34 points with 655 at HL
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What students say
Based on about 95 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 89%
- Learning opportunities: 74%
- Assessment and feedback: 73%
- Academic support: 85%
- Organisation and management: 76%
- Learning resources: 87%
- Student voice: 73%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 150 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 92%
- Left higher education: 5%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 3%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 90 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 6%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 1%
- East Midlands: 1%
- West Midlands: 4%
- East of England: 3%
- London: 43%
- South East: 5%
- South West: 2%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 34%
Who gets in
Based on about 150 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 81%
- Baccalaureate: 6%
- Access course: 3%
- Other HE qualification: 5%
- No formal qualifications: 4%
Modules
- morality and value
- history of philosophy (may include Western and non-Western traditions)
- logic
- philosophy of science
- poetry
- drama
- prose
- Celtic and Scottish ethnology
- business, economics and informatics
- politics, social policy, social anthropology and international relations
- art and architectural history
- history, classics and archaeology
- linguistics and English language
- philosophy, divinity and law
- epistemology
- metaphysics
- philosophy of language
- philosophy of mind
- beauty and art
- language
- cognition and science
- history of philosophy
- knowledge and reality
- morality and value
- political philosophy
- Haunted Imaginations: Scotland and the Supernatural
- Modern and Contemporary Scottish Poetry
- Contemporary Scottish Fiction
- Creative Writing - poetry or prose
- an independent dissertation, consisting of a single extended essay on a topic of your choice in philosophy or Scottish literature
- a coursework dissertation through two extended essays in philosophy
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of MA Philosophy and Scottish Literature at University of Edinburgh earn?
The median salary is £27,500 after 3 years, £33,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £27,000 and £48,000. The £33,000 median after five years is £5,000 more than the UK median for Literature in English.
Are students happy with the teaching on MA Philosophy and Scottish Literature at University of Edinburgh?
89% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for MA Philosophy and Scottish Literature at University of Edinburgh?
The typical offer is AAB at A level, or 36 points in the IB. The average entrant had 173 UCAS points.
Does MA Philosophy and Scottish Literature at University of Edinburgh include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on MA Philosophy and Scottish Literature at University of Edinburgh?
92% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.