Highlands and Islands Literature MLitt

What is special about this course?

This exciting taught postgraduate literature course allows you to study the writers and literatures of the Highlands and Islands, in the communities to which they belong. Trace the footsteps of these inspirational creatives, explore the literary heritage of the area and experience, first hand, the diverse culture of the region.

You will study three main themes throughout the course, namely:

• landscape and identity
• the literary and linguistic legacy for the modern period
• the place of Highlands and Islands literature in the wider context

You will benefit from lectures and seminars by local writers, and the team at the Institute for Northern Studies. Our small classes will give you a more personal study experience during this masters course in Highlands and Islands Literature.

Special features

• Lectures and seminars by local writers
• A creative writing module
• The chance to study and explore the Highland and Islands at the same time
• You can study individual modules for personal or professional development, or work towards the PgCert, PgDip or full masters degree
• You can attend the course full time or part time or from a distance using our online and video conference technologies, which means you can fit your studies around your personal and professional commitments

Entry requirements

• 2:1 honours degree or above (or international equivalent) in English Literature
• Applicants with a 2:1 honours degree in another strongly-related subject will be considered on an individual basis
• A bridging unit entitled 'A Survey of Scottish Literature' is available for those without an English Literature degree or with non-standard qualifications

*Funding support notice*

Postgraduate Loans (SAAS) (Scottish domiciled and EU students)

Loans for tuition fees are available from SAAS for eligible Scotland domiciled and EU students, and loans for living costs for eligible Scottish students.

*SPECIAL NOTICE* FUNDING SUPPORT

• Tuition fee loans (for full-time and part-time students) and living costs loans (full-time students only) to study up to PgDip level may be available for eligible applicants from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS), for more information visit: http://www.saas.gov.uk/forms_and_guides/postgraduate.htm

Access routes

Students can access the programme from a range of our undergraduate programmes including:

• BA (Hons) Literature
• BA (Hons) Culture and Heritage
• And externally from humanities degrees generally

PgCert

Core modules are:

• The Gaelic legacy
• Writers and place
• Literary iconographies

PgDip

Core modules are:

• A tour of the Highlands
• Modern Scottish Gothic

You will also choose one option module which may include:

• Archaeological heritage of Orkney and Shetland
• Exploring creative writing
• Medieval history of Orkney and Shetland
• Picts: revealing the painted past
• Scotland’s customs: traditional beliefs and folklore
• Selling cold islands
• Small island governance
• The Highlands and Islands story

MLitt

To achieve the award of MLitt Highlands and Islands Literature you must complete a research dissertation.

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

• EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
• EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
• EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man), studying this course on-campus or online from their home, the following fees apply:

EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes. These students will get an automatic fee scholarship.

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union, studying on-campus or online, the following fees apply:

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU and international postgraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.

Funding

Eligible Scotland-domiciled students studying full-time can access loans up to £11,500 from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). This comprises a tuition fee loan up to £7,000 and a non-income assessed living cost loan of £4,500. 

Eligible Scotland-domiciled students studying part-time can apply for a tuition fee loan from SAAS.  You must be intending to complete the course in no longer than twice the length of time it would take for a full-time student. For example, if your course is available to full-time students as a one-year programme, you will be funded for a maximum of two years' part-time study. If your course does not have a full-time option, you must complete within three years. You can apply for a tuition fee loan up to £7,000, which will be paid pro-rata for each academic year of study. 

Full details can be found on the SAAS website. Applications for loans open in April.

Students from the rest of the UK who meet the eligibility requirements may be able to apply for a loan from the Student Loan Company.