Scottish History
Postgraduate Study

Edinburgh is the leading university for postgraduate study of Scottish history. Postgraduate students come to us from all over the world. Here they form a diverse and dynamic community, with a strong spirit of camaraderie.

As our research pages show, no university is better situated than Edinburgh to offer you a first-class opportunity to explore new areas of Scotland’s past as a postgraduate student. The compact and historic city centre is home to the National Library of Scotland, the National Museum of Scotland, the National Archives of Scotland, and other repositories of the nation’s historical records and relics from all periods. The university library holds its own collection of historical documents. Historians travel to Edinburgh from the four corners of the globe for the chance to explore these repositories. As an Edinburgh postgraduate, this wealth of historical material is at your doorstep.

Research degrees

Scottish History offers three research degrees:

• MSc by Research (one year full-time)
• MPhil (two years full-time)
• PhD (three years full-time)

All are available part-time as well as full-time.

Research postgraduates construct their own topic, working closely with two academic supervisors. MSc by Research students attend training courses along with fellow postgraduates, and typically write three research essays and a dissertation. MPhil and PhD students write a thesis of 60,000 and 100,000 words respectively. The MSc by Research can be taken as a degree in its own right, and it is also designed to provide research training and experience for postgraduates intending to continue to a PhD. We do not usually admit students directly to a PhD programme from a first degree; we expect them first to acquire a master’s degree or equivalent research experience.

Taught MSc degrees

There are several one-year taught Masters programmes with a substantial Scottish History component:

• MSc in First Millennium Studies
• MSc in Highland Studies
• MSc in Medieval History
• MSc in Modern British and Irish History
• MSc in Scottish Studies

These programmes allow students to pursue a range of related interests in small-group seminars, and to attend training courses. Students conclude their programme by writing a dissertation on a research topic of their choice.

There are some similarities between a taught MSc and the MSc by Research (mentioned above). Both include research training courses and conclude with a dissertation; both can be a preparation for a PhD. A taught MSc degree includes taught courses on aspects of the subject, whereas the MSc by Research involves independent research throughout.

Next: Research culture and community