MA Scandinavian Studies and Spanish

One of the most attractive characteristics of this programme is its flexibility. This means that in Years 1 and 2, you will choose option courses drawn from a wide range of disciplines in addition to your core subjects of Scandinavian Studies and Spanish.

As well as broadening your education and skill set, this may enable you to change the focus of your programme in your honours years (Years 3 and 4).

Year 1

Scandinavian Studies

You will take an intensive beginners' language course in either Danish, Norwegian or Swedish, developing your spoken and written language skills, and studying aspects of literature and culture.

Spanish

You will study either Spanish 1A or 1B, depending on your language skills, and a selection of literary texts and films from the Spanish-speaking world.

Option courses

To broaden the scope of your study, you'll also choose option courses from a wide range offered by the University of Edinburgh.

These include two courses in Scandinavian Civilisation which provide an overview of important trends in the history, society, culture and politics of the Scandinavian and wider Nordic world, from the earliest times to the present. We would encourage you to take one, or both, of these over the course of Years 1 and 2.

Other options include - but are not limited to - courses in:

• business

• politics

• informatics

• economics

• history (including art and architectural history)

• classics

• archaeology

• philosophy

• linguistics

• psychology

Year 2

In Year 2 you will build on the spoken and written language skills you developed in Year 1.

Scandinavian Studies

You will take further courses in Scandinavian literature and languages. You can choose, for example, to develop your skills in understanding all three Scandinavian languages.

Spanish

You will continue to study Spanish and Latin American culture and can choose to study Basque or Catalan.

Option courses

As in Year 1, you will also choose other courses from a wide range offered by the University.

These include a great selection in European languages and cultures, allowing you to study literature, film and theatre in themed and comparative contexts.

Year 3

If international travel restrictions allow, you'll spend Year 3 abroad, dividing your 30 weeks between a country in which Spanish is spoken and either Sweden, Norway, or Denmark. You will spend at least eight weeks in both countries, either studying or completing a work/teaching placement.

Whether studying or working, our graduates have told us how much the year abroad has benefited their broader life experience and skills, as well as their understanding of Scandinavian and Hispanic languages and cultures.

During your year abroad, we'll aim to ensure your experience is as beneficial as possible to your final year, as well as to your wider language learning, cultural awareness and skills development. For example, you'll take e-learning courses which will count as part of your Year 3 mark and prepare you for your Year 4 language courses.

If international travel is not possible, you will be offered an alternative means of engaging with your subjects, enabling you to meet your learning outcomes and preparing you for your final year.

Year 4

You will take advanced language classes in your chosen Scandinavian language and in Spanish.

You will also choose courses on topics such as film and literature, history, politics or language, and complete a dissertation.

Programme structure

Find out more about the compulsory and optional courses in this degree programme.

To give you an idea of what you will study on this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme structure (2021/22)

Our facilities

Teaching takes place in and around the University of Edinburgh's Central Area.

The University has excellent computing and audiovisual resources, support services and social spaces, including many in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures.

Events and activities

The Centre for Contemporary Latin American Studies brings together staff and students from a number of different subject areas, and there is a range of Hispanic student societies and a Scandinavian Society.

Our online magazine for European languages, Babble, is the place to publish your creative writing in Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and Spanish.

Scotland has excellent links with the Nordic nations, and Edinburgh hosts the Northern Scholars programme which fosters co-operation between scholars of the Nordic countries, the Baltic countries and Scotland, largely through events such as:

• public lectures

• workshops

• the involvement of visiting guests in teaching and learning activities

Scandinavian Studies and Spanish in Edinburgh city

Edinburgh is a world-leading festival city filled with cinemas, theatres, galleries, libraries and collections, a thriving Scandinavian scene, and a large community of Spanish speakers.

The city’s European cinema scene is particularly strong, and we are proud to contribute to its success through the annual Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival which was started by our staff.

Study abroad

If international travel restrictions allow, you will spend Year 3 abroad, dividing your time between a country when Spanish is spoken and either Norway, Sweden or Denmark. You will spend at least eight weeks in both countries. This is your chance to immerse yourself in Scandinavian and Hispanic culture, and to develop your broader life experience and skills towards life after university.

What are my options for going abroad?

How will I learn?

Courses are taught through a combination of:

• lectures

• seminars

• tutorials

• computer-assisted learning

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed by a combination of coursework - including presentations, podcasts and posters - as well as exams, including oral exams.

Combining a Scandinavian language with Spanish, you will be one of very few graduates from UK universities specialising in Danish, Norwegian or Swedish while speaking a major world language.

Since speakers of one Scandinavian language are widely understood across the region, and Spanish extends your reach to much of Latin America, you will be well-placed to work in a wide range of countries.

Beyond your language skills, studying different cultures gives you a set of skills and life experiences highly prized by employers, especially when you spend a year abroad as part of your studies.

Drawing on their intercultural and critical awareness, and a combination of analytical and imaginative thinking, our graduates have gone on to careers in:

• journalism
• translation
• marketing
• finance industry
• publishing
• politics and policy work
• education
• cultural and heritage sectors

There are also opportunities to continue studying at postgraduate level, with Year 4 in particular developing the research skills you'll need if you choose this path.

Standard entry requirement

The standard entry requirement is:

• SQA Highers: AAAA-AABB by end of S5 or AAAA-AAAB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: ABB.
• IB: 37 points with 666 at HL - 34 points with 655 at HL.

Minimum entry requirement

The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:

• SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: ABB.
• IB: 34 points with 655 at HL.

More information for widening access applicants

Required subjects

The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:

• SQA: Highers: Spanish at B. National 5s: English at C.
• A Levels: Spanish at B. GCSEs: English at C or 4.
• IB: HL: Spanish or one of the Scandinavian languages at 5. SL: English at 5.

Find out more about entry requirements

International applicants

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Entry requirements by country

Mature applicants

We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.

Mature applicant qualifications

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

SQA, GCSE and IB

For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:

• SQA National 5 at C
• SQA Standard Grade at 3
• SQA Intermediate 1 at A
• SQA Intermediate 2 at C
• GCSE/IGSCE at C or 4
• Level 2 Certificate Grade C
• IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic module overall 6.5 with 5.5 in each component.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Special Home Edition) 92 or above with 20 in each section. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency overall 176 with 162 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with a distinction in all four components.

We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.

English language qualifications must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the degree you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

English language requirements

This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.

It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.

Please note that some programmes do not have Discover Uni data available.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for MA Scandinavian Studies and Spanish

Additional costs

If international travel restrictions allow, you will spend Year 3 abroad. Your costs will depend on where you decide to go and how you spend your time.

Universities may charge you a fee for courses, but we will reimburse you for this provided the course has been approved.

You will be informed about the cost implications as you plan your year abroad, during Year 2.

Funding

For more information on how much it will cost to study with us and the financial support available see our fees and funding information.

Fees and funding

• Enquiry Management Team
• Email: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk