MA Scottish Ethnology and Celtic
About this course
MA (Hons) in Scottish Ethnology and Celtic, a Scottish Ethnology and Studies and Celtic degree exploring the languages, literatures and cultures of Scotland and the wider Celtic world. Core topics include Fieldwork. Students can work with archival materials in the School of Scottish Studies Archives and choose between the Scottish Gaelic language pathway and the Celtic civilisation pathway. The first year covers foundational concepts through Conceptualising Scotland, Creating Scotland, Celtic Civilisation 1A: Barbarians, Saints and Scholars and Celtic Civilisation 1B: Domination, Dislocation and Defiance. The second year examines culture and tradition through Scotland and Orality (Voicing Scotland), Visualising Scotland, Heroes, Wonders, Saints and Sagas - covers medieval Welsh and Irish material and Songs, Swords, Rebels and Revivals - looks at texts from Gaelic Scotland and Early Modern and Modern Ireland. The third year advances into specialized topics with Sustaining Scotland: Heritage, Tourism and Cultural Sustainability in a Global World, Museums and Cultural Representation: Nine Conversations at the National Museum of Scotland, Custom, Belief and Community and Ethnological Fieldwork Methods.
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Entry requirements
A level: ABB (required: no specific A level subjects required) IB: 34 points with 655 at HL
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What students say
Based on about 341 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 87%
- Learning opportunities: 72%
- Assessment and feedback: 71%
- Academic support: 91%
- Organisation and management: 71%
- Learning resources: 88%
- Student voice: 71%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 540 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 94%
- Left higher education: 4%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 1%
What graduates do next
Based on about 33 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 76%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 2%
- Unemployed: 4%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 20%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 5%
- Media Professionals: 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 435 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 2%
- North West: 5%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 5%
- East Midlands: 2%
- West Midlands: 2%
- East of England: 2%
- London: 38%
- South East: 8%
- South West: 4%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 32%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 555 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 83%
- Baccalaureate: 7%
- Access course: 2%
- Other HE qualification: 3%
- No formal qualifications: 5%
Modules
- Conceptualising Scotland
- Creating Scotland
- heritage
- literature
- folklore
- music and song
- visual art
- the popular media
- Scottish Gaelic language pathway
- Celtic civilisation pathway
- Celtic Civilisation 1A: Barbarians, Saints and Scholars
- Celtic Civilisation 1B: Domination, Dislocation and Defiance
- 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
- Scotland and Orality (Voicing Scotland)
- Visualising Scotland
- song
- storytelling
- instrumental music
- dance
- folklore
- performance
- transmission (passing down)
- orality and print
- UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage
- nationhood
- identity
- heritage
- tradition
- cultural difference
- Heroes, Wonders, Saints and Sagas - covers medieval Welsh and Irish material
- Songs, Swords, Rebels and Revivals - looks at texts from Gaelic Scotland and Early Modern and Modern Ireland
- Sustaining Scotland: Heritage, Tourism and Cultural Sustainability in a Global World
- Museums and Cultural Representation: Nine Conversations at the National Museum of Scotland
- Custom, Belief and Community
- Scottish Emigrant Traditions
- The Supernatural World
- Material Culture in Scotland
- Archives and Interpretation
- Ethnological Fieldwork Methods
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of MA Scottish Ethnology and Celtic at University of Edinburgh earn?
The median salary is £30,000 after 15 months, £27,000 after 3 years, £33,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £26,500 and £44,000.
What do graduates of MA Scottish Ethnology and Celtic at University of Edinburgh do next?
87% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on MA Scottish Ethnology and Celtic at University of Edinburgh?
87% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for MA Scottish Ethnology and Celtic at University of Edinburgh?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 34 points in the IB. The average entrant had 176 UCAS points.
Does MA Scottish Ethnology and Celtic at University of Edinburgh include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on MA Scottish Ethnology and Celtic at University of Edinburgh?
94% of students continued into their second year, and 4% left higher education.