Scottish Ethnology and Archaeology MA (Hons)

Central Campus, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Official Website

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48 monthsProgramme duration

SepStarting Month

Shortlist

Programme overview

Main Subject

Ethnicity, Gender and Diversity

Degree

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

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.

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?

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

Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements.

Program Duration

4 Years

Starting Month(s)

Sep

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:

Central Campus, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

48 monthsProgramme duration

SepStarting Month

Programme overview

Main Subject

Degree

Study Level

Study Mode

Programme overview

Main Subject

Degree

Study Level

Study Mode

Admission Requirements

Exam Scores

Important Dates

Scholarships

Scholarships

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