MA Scandinavian Studies and Social Policy
About this course
MA (Hons) in Scandinavian Studies and Social Policy, a joint honours degree spanning Social Policy and German, examines Nordic language, culture, and societal welfare systems. Core topics include Global & Comparative Perspective. Students complete a compulsory year abroad in Denmark, Norway, or Sweden during the third year, which can involve studying, working, or a combination of both. The first year comprises wide-ranging introductory subjects from business, economics and informatics to politics, social policy, social anthropology and international relations, alongside art and architectural history, history, classics and archaeology, Celtic and Scottish ethnology, linguistics and language sciences, and philosophy, divinity and law. Year 2 focuses on specialised investigations through Comparative Social Policy: Global Perspectives, Research Skills for Social Policy, Evidence, Economy and Social Policy, 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, and Languages Beyond University. The third year is spent abroad undertaking study in one or two destinations, work in one or two destinations, study in one destination and work in another, two semesters at a single institution, or one semester at two different institutions in different destinations.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: ABB (required: no specific A level subjects required) IB: 34 points with 655 at HL
See the highest paying Social Sciences degrees in the UK →
See the highest paying Languages & English degrees in the UK →
What students say
Based on about 33 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 80%
- Learning opportunities: 69%
- Assessment and feedback: 70%
- Academic support: 91%
- Organisation and management: 56%
- Learning resources: 89%
- Student voice: 67%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 30 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 95%
- Left higher education: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 6 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 60%
- Working and studying: 5%
- Further study: 20%
- Unemployed: 10%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 20%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 5%
- Customer service occupations: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 75%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 65%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 45%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 20 graduates, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 5%
- East of England: 5%
- London: 30%
- South East: 5%
- Scotland: 45%
- Northern Ireland: 5%
Who gets in
Based on about 35 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 90%
- Baccalaureate: 5%
- Other HE qualification: 5%
- No formal qualifications: 5%
Modules
- business, economics and informatics
- politics, social policy, social anthropology and international relations
- art and architectural history
- history, classics and archaeology
- Celtic and Scottish ethnology
- linguistics and language sciences
- philosophy, divinity and law
- Comparative Social Policy: Global Perspectives - This course compares different approaches to social policy in European and non-European countries.
- Research Skills for Social Policy - This course equips you with core research training and provides a forum for subject-specific learning and community-building.
- Evidence, Economy and Social Policy - This course will focus on the economic dimension of social policy, and the (mis)use of underlying evidence.
- 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
- study in one or two destinations
- work in one or two destinations
- study in one destination and work in another
- two semesters at a single institution
- one semester at two different institutions (in different destinations)
- Student Wellbeing Service
- Student Counselling
- Student Disability and Learning Support
- University emergency helpline (available 24 hours a day)
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of MA Scandinavian Studies and Social Policy at University of Edinburgh earn?
The median salary is £30,000 after 15 months, £27,000 after 3 years, £31,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £26,500 and £41,000. The £31,000 median after five years is £3,500 more than the UK median for Social policy.
What do graduates of MA Scandinavian Studies and Social Policy at University of Edinburgh do next?
80% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on MA Scandinavian Studies and Social Policy at University of Edinburgh?
80% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for MA Scandinavian Studies and Social Policy at University of Edinburgh?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 34 points in the IB. The average entrant had 170 UCAS points.
Does MA Scandinavian Studies and Social Policy at University of Edinburgh include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory year abroad.
How many students continue on MA Scandinavian Studies and Social Policy at University of Edinburgh?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.