Scottish Ethnology and Scandinavian Studies

There has long been a strong Scandinavian influence on Scotland and the wider Celtic world. This innovative joint honours programme gives you the chance to study neighbouring northern European nations which have taken differing routes to modernity, both socially and politically.

You will explore Scotland and Scandinavia's past and present, giving you a nuanced understanding of culture and society and how these shape our world.

Highlights of this programme include:

• working with the rich range of materials in the School of Scottish Studies Archives

• handling and interpreting traditional resources, modern media and digital data

• learning either Danish, Swedish or Norwegian

• studying or working abroad in Year 3, gaining lived experience of Scandinavian culture

Graduating in this combination of subjects shows an openness to ideas and perspectives other than your own, an essential attribute in many careers and a global marketplace.

Scottish Ethnology

Ethnology is the study of the culture and traditions of developed societies. It is sometimes described as being at the intersection where history and anthropology meet.

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.

The programme explores 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?

Through the School of Scottish Studies Archives, you can access thousands of hours of recordings of songs, music, stories, rhyme and verse in Scots, Gaelic and English, as well as in dialects now extinct.

Scandinavian Studies

The languages of Scandinavia have had a considerable impact beyond the Nordic world. The region's screen and literary cultures attract global critical acclaim, and the socio-economic concept of the Nordic Model is widely studied.

On this programme, you will:

• develop advanced spoken and written language skills in modern Danish, Norwegian or Swedish

• explore aspects of Scandinavian and wider Nordic culture, past and present

You do not currently need to know a Scandinavian language, as courses are designed for beginners.

While you will specialise in one language, you will also develop an understanding of the other two we teach to degree level and can choose to explore their similarities and differences.

How long it takes to complete this degree programme

This programme is studied over 4 years. This enables us to build choice and flexibility into your studies, giving you time to explore options, find what you like and build your skills.

Your first two years will be your pre-honours years. They will give you a good grounding in your subjects. In addition to your core courses, you will broaden your education and skill set by choosing option courses from a range of disciplines. This gives you the chance to build your intercultural awareness in other areas of the arts, humanities, social sciences and beyond.

Your final two years will be your honours years. You will spend Year 3 in either Sweden, Norway or Denmark, gaining lived experience of Scandinavian culture. Year 4 will be tailored to your interests in specific topics or approaches to Scottish Ethnology and Scandinavian Studies. You will also further develop your language and translation skills.

Programme benefits

• Take the only programme of its kind in the world.

• Learn in the heart of Scotland's capital city.

• Be inspired by traditional musicians, composers and storytellers.

• Delve into fantastic libraries, archives and collections.

• Try out different subjects in your first two years.

• Join societies related to what you are studying.