MA Religious Studies and Scottish Literature
UCAS code: V6Q3
Duration: 4 years
Delivery: Full-time
School: Divinity
College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Introducing MA Religious Studies and Scottish Literature
This joint honours programme combines the vibrant study of religions with the excitement of Scottish literature.
Religious studies
Religious studies is an interdisciplinary field of study focusing on religious beliefs and practices and their relationships with the wider world.
We take as much interest in the groups and people who practice religion as their gods, deities, ancestors and spirits.
You will:
- study the concepts and emotions which underpin religious belief and practice, and their role and function in culture and society
- cover historical and contemporary material
Examining literature
Reading and writing are key practices in religion and Scottish literature. This programme introduces you to major texts and gives you the tools and critical skills to understand and interpret them.
You will:
- use a range of methods to examine where religious ideas illuminate literature and where religion is mediated in texts
- study texts ranging from canonical writings, such as Buddhist sutras and the Hebrew Bible, to classic and modern fiction
Why Edinburgh
The city of Edinburgh contains many museums, galleries and cultural sites, which broaden and deepen student learning.
We are proud to be based in the heart of the first UNESCO World City of Literature.
The city's literary highlights include:
- the Scottish Poetry Library
- the Writers' Museum
- the Scottish Storytelling Centre
- outstanding holdings in the National Library of Scotland
We have strong links with the Edinburgh International Book Festival, which annually welcomes around 1,000 authors to our literary city.
Year 1
For Religious Studies, you will study two compulsory religion courses, covering a range of religious traditions and approaches.
In Scottish Literature, you will take two literary studies courses. These will introduce you to the essential skills needed for the critical close reading of the core literary genres of poetry, drama and prose.
You will:
- read works of literature written in English from around the world
- encounter a range of ideas about the nature and purpose of literary study
You can also choose courses from other university subject areas.
Year 2
In Year 2, you will study two compulsory religion courses, covering a range of religious traditions and approaches.
You will be introduced to the study of Scottish literature in its cultural and historical contexts, focusing on a selection of major periods.
These courses will explore the relationship between literary texts and the construction of national, international and imperial cultures.
You can also choose courses from other University subject areas.
Year 3
In Year 3, you will:
- continue to study one or more religious traditions in international and cross-cultural contexts
- take literature courses at an advanced level
Some of these courses may focus on further development of your critical skills, and help you prepare for the independent dissertation that you will write in Year 4.
Year 4
In Year 4, you will choose further advanced courses and will complete a dissertation with academic guidance on a subject in either religious traditions or Scottish literature.
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.
Our facilities
The University of Edinburgh has the oldest department of English and Scottish literature in the UK, one of the longest established in the world.
Your teaching will mostly be at New College in the centre of Edinburgh. This city landmark has its own:
- historic library
- study space
- hall
- garden
Many other study and student support facilities are only a short walk away in George Square; these include the University's Main Library.
New College Library
New College Library holds one of the largest theology and religious studies collections in the UK. Its special collections include:
- historical archives
- manuscripts
- printed books
- objects
Current collections support the teaching and research activities of the School of Divinity in:
- Biblical Studies
- The History of Christianity
- Religious Studies
- Theology and Ethics
- World Christianity
The collections continue to develop in new and evolving areas such as Science and Religion, Christian-Muslim relations, Buddhist and Jewish studies, and Religion and Literature.
Libraries, collections and centres
The University holds many literary treasures in its extensive collections, including:
- the Corson Collection of works by and about Sir Walter Scott
- the libraries of Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Hugh MacDiarmid and Norman MacCaig
We are home to the Scottish Writing in the 19th Century project and network, and Scotland’s Early Literature for Children Initiative.
We are the Scottish base of The Collected Letters of Thomas and Jane Welsh Carlyle, Duke-Edinburgh edition, one of the major editorial projects in Victorian studies of the last half-century.
Events and activities
The Edinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) supports more than 300 student-led societies and clubs, and promotes opportunities with local charities through its volunteering centre.
EUSA also supports LitPALS - the Peer-Assisted Learning Scheme for literature where students across year groups help each other with specific study skills, topics or themes.
Across the University, there are many opportunities to get involved in, including:
- reading and writers' groups
- poetry slams
- creative writing and publishing
- student theatre
We also have a fantastic Writer-in-Residence who organises talks and workshops by visiting writers and runs our annual writing prizes. Their drop-in sessions give you the chance to:
- share your work
- get feedback
- meet other student writers
- get inspiration and prompts for new work
Annual student writing prizes include awards for prose and verse in Lowland Scots vernacular.
Take a virtual tour
You can take a closer look at the School of Divinity on the University's Virtual Visit site and explore our facilities and campus.
Take a virtual tour of the School of Divinity
Study abroad
You will have a range of opportunities to spend time abroad. For shorter periods, these include summer programmes and working abroad.
During Year 3, you will have the chance to study abroad on exchange for up to a year at a wide selection of leading global universities. These include two institutions the School of Divinity has ongoing relationships with:
- Radboud University Nijmegen
- Dartmouth College
Going abroad expands your horizons and is great fun. It also brings you academic and career benefits.
How will I learn?
You will be taught through a mix of:
- lectures
- tutorials
- seminars
- digital learning
You will also be expected to undertake substantial reading each week in preparation for classes, particularly in Scottish literature.
How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed in a variety of ways, including:
- examinations
- coursework
- participation in seminars
- presentation of your work
- an honours dissertation
Our graduates pursue a wide range of careers in a variety of settings, including:
- the creative arts
- non-governmental organisations
- finance
- teaching
- management
- administration
- government
- counselling
- the voluntary sector
Standard entry requirement
The standard entry requirement is:
- SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S5 or AABB/ABBBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
- A Levels: ABB.
- IB: 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: English at B.
- A Levels: English Literature or combined English at B.
- IB: HL: English at 5.
Find out more about entry requirements
International applicants
We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
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.
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
- GCSE at C or 4
- Level 2 Certificate at 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: total 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 162 in each component.
- Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
- PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 54 in each component.
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, PTE Academic, TOEFL or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
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 Religious Studies and Scottish Literature
Additional costs
None.
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.
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