Literatures, Languages & Cultures

Taught masters programmes

Expand your horizons. Choose from a range of masters programmes across literatures, languages and cultures.

Why take a taught MSc in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures?

A taught postgraduate masters programme is an excellent opportunity to strengthen your existing skills, develop new ones, and sharpen your focus on the aspects of your subject that interest you most.

As one of the largest and most diverse Schools in the University of Edinburgh, the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) is the ideal place to study for a year or more in preparation for a range of careers or for a research degree such as a PhD.

Our interdisciplinary environment means that many of our postgraduate masters programmes draw on expertise from multiple subject areas and you’ll be immersed in a world of learning, with myriad opportunities to participate beyond the classroom. Events range from research and work-in-progress seminars, to reading groups, conferences, workshops, performances, and online journals and forums, many of which are student-led.

Our graduates tell us that they value LLC’s friendliness, the connections they make here and the in-depth guidance they receive from our staff, who are experts in their field. As well as excellent School resources, you’ll benefit from the advice and guidance of the Careers Service and the Institute for Academic Development, as well as the University’s fantastic libraries and collections and strategic partnerships with institutions across Edinburgh and beyond.

Your study at a glance

  • Over the course of your programme, you’ll complete a mix of core and optional courses and an independent dissertation.
  • Most programmes take a single year to complete, full-time. Many are also offered on a two-year, part-time basis (eligibility criteria apply).
  • For your dissertation, you’ll be supervised by a member of staff with expertise in your area of interest.
  • You'll typically be based at the heart of the University of Edinburgh, in the city’s historic centre, close to the Main University Library and the National Library of Scotland. Our festival city, the first UNESCO World City of Literature, is a treasure trove of cinemas, theatres, music venues, museums, galleries and collections.

What can I study?

All links in our table take you to the University of Edinburgh's online Degree Finder, where you can find out more about what's involved in each MSc. Applications for 2024 entry are now open.

Comparative Literature - MSc

Creative Writing - MSc

East Asian Studies - MSc Film, Exhibition and Curation - MSc
Film Studies - MSc The Globalised Muslim World - MSc

Intermediality: Literature, Film and the Arts in Dialogue - MSc

Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies - MSc

Literature and Modernity: 1900 to the Present - MSc Literature and Society: Enlightenment, Romantic and Victorian - MSc
Playwriting - MSc

Translation Studies- MSc

Find out more

You can find out about entrance requirements, start dates, fees and scholarship opportunities for all our taught postgraduate masters programmes on the University of Edinburgh’s Degree Finder. Degree Finder links straight through to EUCLID, the online system for applying to postgraduate programmes at the University.

Applications to start a taught masters programme in September 2024 are now open. 

Take me to Degree Finder

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Email us about taught postgraduate study

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Get in touch

Many of us work on a hybrid basis - a mixture of on-campus and digitally.

Our working hours are Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm (UK time).

Please email us in the first instance, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

Email us about taught postgraduate study

If you are holding an offer to study with us, your enquiry is best answered by the College Postgraduate Admissions team.

Email the College Postgraduate Admissions team 

Are you currently studying with us?

There’s lots more information on our LLC Student Information Hub. You will need your student log in to access the site.

Take me to the LLC Student Information Hub

QS World Rankings by Subject 2023

Graphic with the text #3 in the UK, World Top 10

The University of Edinburgh is ranked 3rd in the UK for Modern Languages and for English Language and Literature.

We are also 3rd in the UK in the broad subject area of Arts & Humanities.

Globally, we’re in the World Top 10 for Modern Languages (7), English Language and Literature (9) and Arts & Humanities (10).

The Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings are based on research citations and the results of major global surveys of employers and academics.

They are International Ranking Expert Group (IREG) approved.

Where to next?

Take me to all postgraduate study options in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures