MA Scottish Ethnology and English Literature
About this course
MA (Hons) in Scottish Ethnology and English Literature, a Scottish Ethnology and Studies and English Literature degree exploring human cultural expression and literary traditions. Core topics include Fieldwork. Students engage with materials housed in the School of Scottish Studies Archives. The first year covers foundational themes through Conceptualising Scotland and Creating Scotland alongside external subject choices. The second year examines orality and cultural transmission through Scotland and Orality (Voicing Scotland) and Visualising Scotland. The third and fourth years allow specialised study with options such as 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, Haunted Imaginations: Scotland and the Supernatural, and Modern and Contemporary Scottish Poetry, complemented by Archives and Interpretation and Ethnological Fieldwork Methods.
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Entry requirements
A level: ABB (required: English Literature or combined English at B) IB: 34 points with 655 at HL
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What students say
Based on about 98 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 88%
- Learning opportunities: 70%
- Assessment and feedback: 70%
- Academic support: 91%
- Organisation and management: 71%
- Learning resources: 89%
- Student voice: 67%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 190 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 91%
- Gained a higher qualification: 1%
- Left higher education: 7%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 2%
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 215 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 86%
- Baccalaureate: 7%
- Access course: 1%
- Other HE qualification: 3%
- No formal qualifications: 3%
Modules
- Conceptualising Scotland
- Creating Scotland
- heritage
- literature
- folklore
- music and song
- visual art
- the popular media
- poetry
- drama
- prose
- Celtic civilisation
- art and architectural history
- history, classics and archaeology
- business, economics and informatics
- politics, social policy, social anthropology and international relations
- linguistics and English language
- 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
- 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
- Haunted Imaginations: Scotland and the Supernatural
- Modern and Contemporary Scottish Poetry
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of MA Scottish Ethnology and English Literature 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 Literature 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 Literature 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 Literature at University of Edinburgh?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 34 points in the IB. The average entrant had 181 UCAS points.
Does MA Scottish Ethnology and English 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 Scottish Ethnology and English Literature at University of Edinburgh?
91% of students continued into their second year, and 7% left higher education.