English and Scottish Literature

Information for applicants and offer holders for our degree programmes in English and Scottish Literature. Welcome!

I’m delighted that you are interested in studying with us and very much hope that you will join our community. 

You will be in good company. We are the oldest department of literature in the UK; one of the longest-established in the world.  

We are proud to be based in the first UNESCO World City of Literature, just across George Square from the Main University Library and a short walk from the National Library of Scotland. 

We hope that the information we’ve provided will help you choose the right university and degree for you. 

Professor Alex Thomson, Head of School

Degree programmes and structures

Need a refresher on the details of the degree programme you've applied for? Our Degree Finder provides more information about your programme, such as:

  • what you will study
  • where you will study
  • career opportunities
  • fees, costs and funding 

English and Scottish Literature degree programmes: 2025 entry

 

A Degree Programme Table (DPT) provides comprehensive information about the structure of a degree programme, including both compulsory and optional courses. The detailed programme content for 2025/26 is available below. 

 

English and Scottish Literature degree structures 2025/26

Why study English and Scottish Literature at Edinburgh?

Through reading, you develop an openness to ideas and perspectives other than your own, an essential attribute in many careers and a global marketplace. Studying literature prepares you to contribute to a world in which an understanding of texts of all kinds is crucially important. 

On our programmes, you will develop your critical, linguistic and creative skills by engaging with a broad range of texts from different places and periods and a variety of approaches to reading. You’ll be introduced to the digital, economic, environmental and medical humanities and practice analysing and articulating complex issues and concepts. 

Edinburgh is a remarkable place to study, write, publish, discuss and perform prose, poetry and drama. Teaching literature since 1762, today our expertise covers writing in English from around the globe. Our Writers in Residence have included some of Scottish literature's most significant contemporary authors. 

Our graduates have gone on to careers in the private, public, not-for-profit, and for-benefit sectors, sometimes through graduate training schemes where the ability to communicate well is essential in securing a competitive place. If you are interested in jobs in creative writing, publishing, heritage, and the arts in particular, living and studying in the festival city of Edinburgh will be a great start.  

Undergraduate degrees in English and Scottish Literature

On all of our undergraduate degree programmes, you will: 

  • Study over four years, giving you choice, flexibility and the chance to develop skills in all aspects of the humanities. If you take a joint honours with a European language, you will spend Year 3 abroad. 
  • Try out different subjects in your first two years. Choices range from business and informatics to learning one of more than 20 world languages, even as a complete beginner! 
  • Learn at the heart of Scotland's capital, a fantastic literary city which many greats of English and Scottish Literature have called home. The Edinburgh International Book Festival annually welcomes around 1,000 authors to our campus. 
  • Delve into fantastic libraries and collections. From the University's Special Collections to the National Library of Scotland and Scottish Poetry Library, the city's resources for studying literature are exceptional. 
  • Be inspired by working authors, including our Writer in Residence who runs talks and workshops by visiting writers and drop-in sessions to help you develop your voice. 
  • Get the chance to join societies related to your studies. Across the University, you can get involved in reading and writers' groups, poetry slams, creative writing, publishing, and student theatre. There’s also a large Peer Support scheme for literature. 

Have you applied for a joint honours degree? Don't forget to look at the information for each of your subjects. 

Not sure which School looks after the other subject of your degree? Check our School list for information on the subjects they manage. 

College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences: Schools and subjects 


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