MA Scandinavian Studies and History

Year 1

You will choose one of the three intensive beginners' language courses: Danish 1, Norwegian 1 or Swedish 1. These courses also provide an introduction to the culture and literature of the country in question.

Students in Years 1 and 2 are also encouraged to take one or both of the following free-standing but complementary courses:

Scandinavian Civilisation A: Vikings, Sagas and the Road to Enlightenment; Scandinavian Civilisation B: From National Romanticism to the Nordic Model.

Between them, these courses 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 day.

Year 2

You will continue with Danish Language 2, Norwegian Language 2 or Swedish Language 2, which build on and develop your linguistic knowledge from Year 1.

You will also take one or both of:

Scandinavian Literature 2, which focuses on Danish, Norwegian and Swedish literature from 1835 to the present day, and covers a wide variety of literary forms, ranging from the fairytale to crime writing, from drawing-room drama to new urban narratives.

Scandinavian Languages 2, which investigates the similarities and differences between the Scandinavian languages past and present, discusses the perspectives and problems of inter-Scandinavian communication and the challenges involved in translating from Scandinavian into English.

Year 3

You will spend Year 3 (or part of it if you are also taking another language) studying or working in Denmark, Norway or Sweden.

Year 4

You will take advanced language classes in essay, commentary and summary writing, in translation from the Scandinavian languages into English, and in spoken Danish, Norwegian or Swedish.

You will also choose from a range of specialist honours option courses, focusing on Scandinavian cultural topics from the medieval to the modern, including Old Norse Studies, Viking Studies, History of the Scandinavian Novel, History of the Scandinavian Languages, Nynorsk, and Ibsen and Brandes.

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 (2018/19)

Our facilities

Teaching takes place in and around the School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures, in the University's Central Area. We are based in a state-of-the-art building, at 50 George Square, which houses computer microlabs, a language resource centre, and social facilities as well as tutors' offices and lecture theatres.

Study abroad

During Year 3, you will spend a minimum of 30 weeks on approved work or study placement in the country/countries relevant to the language/s studied.

Guaranteed study abroad funding for students required to complete a year abroad

How will I learn?

Courses are taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials and computer-assisted learning. The emphasis throughout is on a blend of activities designed to appeal to different learning styles.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed by a combination of exams and coursework.

Programme details

Find out more about this programme's aims, what you will learn, how you will be assessed and what skills and knowledge you will develop.

To give you an idea of what to expect from 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 details (2018/19)

As there are relatively few graduates specialising in Scandinavian languages, you have excellent opportunities in areas such as translation, journalism, tourism, the cultural sector, the European Union, international relations, industry, marketing, and research.

However, our graduates are to be found in every kind of career, especially those that place a premium on thinking that is both disciplined and imaginative.

Typical offer range

The typical offer is likely to be:

• SQA Highers: AAAA - ABBB (Revised 26/6/2018 to provide more accurate information).
• A Levels: AAB - ABB.
• IB: 36 points (grades 655 at HL) - IB 34 points (grades 655 at HL) (Revised 26/6/2018 to provide more accurate information).

Access threshold

The access threshold for a contextual offer is:

• SQA Highers: ABBB.
• A Levels: ABB.
• IB: 34 points (grades 655 at HL).

Find out more about access thresholds and contextual offers

Detailed requirements for all applicants

To be considered for an offer of a place all applicants must meet the following requirements:

• SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S5 or ABBBB/AABB from S4-S6, with a minimum of BBB achieved in one year of S4-S6. National 5: A language other than English at Grade B and English at Grade C. (Revised 22/10/2018 to reflect that we no longer require Mathematics or an approved science.)
• A Levels: ABB. GCSEs: A language other than English at Grade B or 6 and English at Grade C or 4. (Revised 22/10/2018 to reflect that we no longer require Mathematics or an approved science.)
• IB: Award of Diploma with 34 points overall and grades 655 in HL subjects. SL: A language other than English at 5 and English at 5. (Revised 22/10/2018 to reflect that we no longer require Mathematics or an approved science.)

Additional requirements

Language requirement

Please note that for degrees that have a subject requirement of a language other than English, students may not use their own native language to meet this requirement. In these instances, English or an alternative language other than native will be acceptable.

Find out more about entry requirements

International applicants

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

Entry requirements by country

International Foundation Programme

If you are an international student and your school qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to the University you may be eligible for admission to this degree programme through our International Foundation Programme.

International Foundation Programme

Mature applicants

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

Mature applicant qualifications

You must provide evidence that your written and spoken English is at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

If English is not your first language, you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your spoken and written English:

• IELTS Academic module overall 6.5 with 5.5 in each component
• TOEFL-iBT 92 or above with 20 in each section
• Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency overall 176 with 162 in each component
• Pearson Test of English (Academic): Total 61 with at least 51 in each "Communicative Skills" section
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with a distinction in all four components

About English language requirements

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

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 Unistats data available.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for MA Scandinavian Studies and History

Additional costs

For your compulsory residence abroad in Year 3, we give you a wide range of options. Your costs will depend on where you decide to go and how you spend your time. A placement with an Erasmus+ work grant, for example, could make this the cheapest year of your programme.

Universities outside the EU 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

• College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Undergraduate Admissions Office
• Email: CAHSS.UGAdmissions@ed.ac.uk
• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 3565
• Web: Scandinavian Studies website
• International enquiries