Why study English Literature and Scottish Literature at Edinburgh

Learn about our history, reputation and rankings, and find out what our students think of us.

History, reputation and rankings

Having first offered courses on ‘rhetoric and belles lettres’ over 250 years ago, we are the oldest department of English Literature in the UK - one of the longest established in the world.

In 1762, under the guidance of the pioneering Reverend Hugh Blair (first Regius Chair), students at the University of Edinburgh were encouraged to move away from the study of solely Latin and Greek texts to a much broader range of writing, ultimately developing the academic discipline of literary criticism as we know it today.

Sixteen Regius Professors have since followed, and we remain at the forefront of understanding literature and what makes ‘lettres’ ‘belles’.

When I was a student at Edinburgh I felt a great connection to the writers who’d studied here in the past. It was a continuum, a great thrill, being a student at an institution that has had so many amazing people go through it.

We are ranked:

• third in the UK for English Language and Literature in the QS World Rankings by Subject 2023

• ninth in the world for English Language and Literature in the QS World Rankings by Subject 2023

• tenth in the world for Arts & Humanities in the QS World Rankings by Subject 2023

Browse the QS World Rankings by Subject 2023 on Top Universities

Established in 1919, our James Tait Black Prizes for Biography and Fiction have been awarded annually for over a century. The UK’s longest-running literary awards, they are the only ones to be exclusively judged by scholars, including members of our teaching staff and a panel of postgraduate students. 

What our students say

One of the best things about studying in Edinburgh is how the cultural history and contemporary social ethics interweave with literature's narrative to cultivate a great love in its study. With an extensive library and writing festivals, studying English Literature has been a thoroughly fulfilling experience.