48 monthsProgramme duration
SepStarting Month
Programme overview
Main Subject
Ethnicity, Gender and Diversity
Degree
MA
Study Level
Undergraduate
Study Mode
On Campus
Uncover Scotland’s past and help shape its future, while gaining skills that you can apply to any country, culture or place.
This innovative joint honours programme combines two related yet distinct approaches to the study of human cultures, past and present. Taking this programme shows an openness to ideas and perspectives other than your own, an essential attribute in many careers and a global marketplace.
Over the course of your four years with us, you will gain the practical and intellectual tools to handle and interpret:
- historic remains and artefacts
- print and traditional resources
- modern media and digital data
Scottish Ethnology
Ethnology is the study of the culture and traditions of societies. It is sometimes described as being at the intersection where history and anthropology meet.
While ethnology is commonly offered in universities across Europe, this is the only full undergraduate programme of its kind in the UK.
Focusing on Scotland, but also looking at comparative material from elsewhere, you will study the varying ways in which a modern European nation expresses itself culturally.
Our courses explore questions such as:
- How do customs, beliefs, social organisation, language, music and song help to create and shape identity in the modern world?
- How do we use and make sense of the past from within our present?
- How can this understanding help us to shape our future?
A highlight of our programme is the chance to work with the rich range of materials in the School of Scottish Studies Archives and Scottish Studies Library: over 33,000 recordings, thousands of photographs, and rarely-seen historic documents.
These materials are kept alive through our teaching, our undergraduate and postgraduate research, and through the work of our Traditional Artist and Gaelic Writer in Residence.
Archaeology
Complementing the ethnology side of your programme, which explores the recent past and present, your studies in archaeology take you further back in time.
Archaeology is the study of our human past through the discovery, recovery and analysis of material remains.
Archaeologists are uniquely positioned to provide deep-time perspectives on contemporary global challenges such as climate change, migration, identity and heritage.
While historians are primarily concerned with oral, written and transcribed accounts of the past, archaeologists study the lives and societies of past peoples by using:
- artefacts
- ecofacts (such as plant and animal remains)
- buildings
- sites
- human remains
You will develop a range of skills in the interpretation of social and cultural change.
The programme also enables students to appreciate:
- the development and practice of archaeology
- the contested nature of objects and sites
- social relationships that arise around objects, sites and landscapes
You will gain practical experience in archaeological fieldwork, and use excellent on-campus laboratories.
Programme benefits
- Learn to see society differently, gaining perspectives you can apply to any country, culture or place.
- Study in the heart of Scotland's capital city, a cultural and historical treasure trove.
- Take courses over four years, giving you the choice and flexibility to try out different things.
- Explore fantastic libraries, archives and collections at the University and in the city.
- Be inspired by traditional musicians, composers and storytellers and follow in the footsteps of fieldworkers.
- Join societies, attend events, and gain the skills and confidence for life after university.
Programme overview
Main Subject
Ethnicity, Gender and Diversity
Degree
MA
Study Level
Undergraduate
Study Mode
On Campus
Uncover Scotland’s past and help shape its future, while gaining skills that you can apply to any country, culture or place.
This innovative joint honours programme combines two related yet distinct approaches to the study of human cultures, past and present. Taking this programme shows an openness to ideas and perspectives other than your own, an essential attribute in many careers and a global marketplace.
Over the course of your four years with us, you will gain the practical and intellectual tools to handle and interpret:
- historic remains and artefacts
- print and traditional resources
- modern media and digital data
Scottish Ethnology
Ethnology is the study of the culture and traditions of societies. It is sometimes described as being at the intersection where history and anthropology meet.
While ethnology is commonly offered in universities across Europe, this is the only full undergraduate programme of its kind in the UK.
Focusing on Scotland, but also looking at comparative material from elsewhere, you will study the varying ways in which a modern European nation expresses itself culturally.
Our courses explore questions such as:
- How do customs, beliefs, social organisation, language, music and song help to create and shape identity in the modern world?
- How do we use and make sense of the past from within our present?
- How can this understanding help us to shape our future?
A highlight of our programme is the chance to work with the rich range of materials in the School of Scottish Studies Archives and Scottish Studies Library: over 33,000 recordings, thousands of photographs, and rarely-seen historic documents.
These materials are kept alive through our teaching, our undergraduate and postgraduate research, and through the work of our Traditional Artist and Gaelic Writer in Residence.
Archaeology
Complementing the ethnology side of your programme, which explores the recent past and present, your studies in archaeology take you further back in time.
Archaeology is the study of our human past through the discovery, recovery and analysis of material remains.
Archaeologists are uniquely positioned to provide deep-time perspectives on contemporary global challenges such as climate change, migration, identity and heritage.
While historians are primarily concerned with oral, written and transcribed accounts of the past, archaeologists study the lives and societies of past peoples by using:
- artefacts
- ecofacts (such as plant and animal remains)
- buildings
- sites
- human remains
You will develop a range of skills in the interpretation of social and cultural change.
The programme also enables students to appreciate:
- the development and practice of archaeology
- the contested nature of objects and sites
- social relationships that arise around objects, sites and landscapes
You will gain practical experience in archaeological fieldwork, and use excellent on-campus laboratories.
Programme benefits
- Learn to see society differently, gaining perspectives you can apply to any country, culture or place.
- Study in the heart of Scotland's capital city, a cultural and historical treasure trove.
- Take courses over four years, giving you the choice and flexibility to try out different things.
- Explore fantastic libraries, archives and collections at the University and in the city.
- Be inspired by traditional musicians, composers and storytellers and follow in the footsteps of fieldworkers.
- Join societies, attend events, and gain the skills and confidence for life after university.
Admission Requirements
Scholarships
Selecting the right scholarship can be a daunting process. With countless options available, students often find themselves overwhelmed and confused. The decision can be especially stressful for those facing financial constraints or pursuing specific academic or career goals.
To help students navigate this challenging process, we recommend the following articles:
How to get a full scholarship
Looking for a fully-funded scholarship to see you into university? Find out how to boost your chances of getting one.
Scholarships to study abroad
Find scholarships to study abroad with our lists of international scholarships – categorized by country, by subject, and by type of student.
Scholarship Applications: Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to all your questions about scholarship applications, including tips on how to find scholarships and chances of success.
Get closer to your dream programme
Your consent preferences have been set.
Time to start exploring.
Your account has been removed.
You can still browse the site or sign up again once you have parental consent.
Get closer to your dream programme