Scandinavian Studies (Research)

Make an original, positive and lasting contribution to Scandinavian studies. A PhD is an opportunity to expand upon your interests and expertise as part of an active research community making impact across the globe. Join us at the heart of Scotland’s capital and festival city.

The University of Edinburgh is one of only two centres for the study of modern Scandinavian languages in the UK. We have been teaching, publishing and supervising research in the languages, literatures and cultures of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and other parts of the wider Nordic region since 1987.

We are currently home to the Scottish Society for Northern Studies, whose events and journal have been exploring Scotland’s historical connections with the Nordic world since the early 1970s. We also oversee the University of Edinburgh's Northern Scholars Scheme, which is now in its 8th decade.

Research-active colleagues in Scandinavian studies maintain a broad range of academic interests. These cover aspects of Scandinavia and its diaspora from prehistoric times to the present day. We are ideally placed to supervise doctoral research in:

• 19th and 20th century literature

• cultural relations and transfer

• language history and dialectology

• literary translation

• onomastics

• place and identity

• Scottish–Scandinavian historical relations

• Viking studies

• Scandinavian cultural history

Over the course of your PhD, you will complete an original body of work under the expert guidance of at least two supervisors. Your thesis will be around 80,000 words.

Our programme includes access to skills training, including research methodologies specific to Scandinavian studies. Our research resources, collections and facilities are outstanding.