Scottish Ethnology and English Language MA (Hons) 48 months Undergraduate Programme By The University of Edinburgh |TopUniversities

Programme overview

Main Subject

Ethnicity, Gender and Diversity

Degree

MA

Study Level

Undergraduate

Study Mode

On Campus

This innovative joint honours programme combines two complementary approaches to the study of human culture and expression.


Ethnology explores the culture and traditions of societies, while English Language looks at how English has changed over time, including in an international context.


This is the only full undergraduate programme of its kind in the UK. In your ethnological work, you will study Scotland in a comparative context, and gain skills that you can apply to any culture.


A highlight of the programme is the opportunity to work with thousands of hours of recordings in Scots, Gaelic, English, and dialects now extinct. You will gain in-depth experience handling traditional resources, modern media, digital data and some of the best linguistics and phonetics equipment in the world.


Scottish Ethnology


Ethnology is sometimes described as being at the intersection where history and anthropology meet.


Focusing on Scotland, but also looking at comparative material from elsewhere, our programme looks at the varying ways in which a modern European nation expresses itself culturally.


We ask 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?


Follow in the footsteps of fieldworkers


Studying Scottish Ethnology is your chance to work with the rich range of materials in the School of Scottish Studies Archives and Scottish Studies Library.


You will explore the work of former staff and students who, since 1951, have been capturing elements of life in Scotland: 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.


English Language


Using techniques from modern linguistics, you will analyse the structure of written and spoken English and explore how the language has changed in the course of its history.


As well as the study of change in English, we have a strong tradition of investigating variations of the language, including:


  • Scots
  • varieties of British English
  • global Englishes


You will study modern-day English and Scots and identify the similarities and differences between English and other languages.


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 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

This innovative joint honours programme combines two complementary approaches to the study of human culture and expression.


Ethnology explores the culture and traditions of societies, while English Language looks at how English has changed over time, including in an international context.


This is the only full undergraduate programme of its kind in the UK. In your ethnological work, you will study Scotland in a comparative context, and gain skills that you can apply to any culture.


A highlight of the programme is the opportunity to work with thousands of hours of recordings in Scots, Gaelic, English, and dialects now extinct. You will gain in-depth experience handling traditional resources, modern media, digital data and some of the best linguistics and phonetics equipment in the world.


Scottish Ethnology


Ethnology is sometimes described as being at the intersection where history and anthropology meet.


Focusing on Scotland, but also looking at comparative material from elsewhere, our programme looks at the varying ways in which a modern European nation expresses itself culturally.


We ask 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?


Follow in the footsteps of fieldworkers


Studying Scottish Ethnology is your chance to work with the rich range of materials in the School of Scottish Studies Archives and Scottish Studies Library.


You will explore the work of former staff and students who, since 1951, have been capturing elements of life in Scotland: 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.


English Language


Using techniques from modern linguistics, you will analyse the structure of written and spoken English and explore how the language has changed in the course of its history.


As well as the study of change in English, we have a strong tradition of investigating variations of the language, including:


  • Scots
  • varieties of British English
  • global Englishes


You will study modern-day English and Scots and identify the similarities and differences between English and other languages.


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 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.

4 Years
Sep

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