MA Scottish Ethnology and English Language
About this course
MA (Hons) in Scottish Ethnology and English Language, a joint honours degree within Scottish Ethnology and Studies and English Language and Linguistics. Core topics include Fieldwork. Students engage with archival resources from the School of Scottish Studies Archives. The first year introduces foundational concepts through Conceptualising Scotland, Creating Scotland, Linguistics and English Language 1A and Linguistics and English Language 1B, examining language structures and cultural expressions. The second year builds on this with Scotland and Orality (Voicing Scotland) and Visualising Scotland, alongside modules exploring cultural transmission and linguistic variation. Honours years advance into specialised areas such as Archives and Interpretation, Ethnological Fieldwork Methods, Traditional Narrative and Traditional Song (Gaelic and Scots options), supported by material from national collections.
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
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What students say
Based on about 16 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 88%
- Learning opportunities: 75%
- Assessment and feedback: 74%
- Academic support: 90%
- Organisation and management: 76%
- Learning resources: 91%
- Student voice: 74%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 35 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 95%
- Left higher education: 5%
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%
- 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 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 30 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 80%
- Baccalaureate: 10%
- Access course: 5%
- No formal qualifications: 5%
Modules
- Conceptualising Scotland
- Creating Scotland
- heritage
- literature
- folklore
- music and song
- visual art
- the popular media
- Linguistics and English Language 1A - this offers a brief introduction to the study of language in general and of English in particular
- Linguistics and English Language 1B - this will help you develop the tools and knowledge needed to investigate the different subsystems of language in a systematic way
- Celtic civilisation
- art and architectural history
- history, classics and archaeology
- business, economics and informatics
- politics, social policy, social anthropology and international relations
- 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
- the structure and history of world languages
- variation in English over time and across geographical space
- Archives and Interpretation
- Ethnological Fieldwork Methods
- Traditional Narrative
- Traditional Song (Gaelic and Scots options)
- Traditional Music
- Traditional Drama
- Sustaining Scotland: Heritage, Tourism and Cultural Sustainability in a Global World
- Custom, Belief and Community
- Scottish Emigrant Traditions
- The Supernatural World
- Material Culture in Scotland
- Museums and Cultural Representation: Nine Conversations at the National Museum of Scotland
- current issues in the discipline
- the history of Scots, Old and Middle English, Global Englishes and dialects
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of MA Scottish Ethnology and English Language 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 English Language 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 English Language at University of Edinburgh?
88% 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 English Language at University of Edinburgh?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 34 points in the IB. The average entrant had 162 UCAS points.
Does MA Scottish Ethnology and English Language 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 English Language at University of Edinburgh?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.