PG Languages, Literature & Cultures

Postgraduate opportunities Prospectus 2013 entry

Literatures, Languages & Cultures

www.ed.ac.uk

Welcome to the University of Edinburgh:Influencing the world since 1583

THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

Our proud history and alumni ambassadors For more than 400 years our people have been making their mark on the world. They’ve explored space, revolutionised surgery, won Nobel

Prizes, published era-defining books, run the country, paved the way for life-saving breakthroughs and laid the foundations for solving the

mysteries of the universe. By choosing further study or research at Edinburgh you will be joining a community of scholars who have been at

the forefront of knowledge since 1583.

We are associated with 15 Nobel Prize winners, including physicists Charles Barkla and Max Born, medical researcher Peter Doherty,

economist Sir James Mirrlees and biologist Sir Paul Nurse. Our famous alumni include NASA astronaut Piers Sellers, former

MI5 Director-General Dame Stella Rimington, Olympians Sir Chris Hoy and Katherine Grainger and historical greats such as philosopher

David Hume, physicist and mathematician James Clerk Maxwell, inventor Alexander Graham Bell and Sherlock Holmes creator Sir Arthur

Conan Doyle.

Teaching and research excellence We are consistently ranked as one of the world’s top 50* universities. As host to more than 30,000 students from some 130 countries,

studying across 100 academic disciplines, the University of Edinburgh continues to attract the world’s greatest minds. World-leading

research is produced by 96 per cent** of our academic departments, placing Edinburgh in the top five in the UK for research. Our excellent

teaching was also confirmed in the latest report from the Quality Assurance Agency, which awarded us the highest rating possible for the

quality of the student learning experience.

Collaborations and international partnerships As an internationally renowned centre of academic excellence, Edinburgh is the site of many world-class research collaborations. Our

postgraduate students are crucial to our continued success and development and, along with our staff, they forge research links through regular

travel and overseas exchanges. We take pride in our partnerships with other institutions such as the California Institute of Technology, Stanford

University, the University of Melbourne, Peking University, the University of Delhi and the University of KwaZulu-Natal – to name but a few.

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ContentsWelcome to the School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures 2

Facilities and resources 3

Community 4

Employability and graduate attributes 5

Taught masters programmes 6

Research at the School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures 20

Research opportunities 21

Funding 32

How to apply 34

Get in touch 35

Campus map 36 37

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The University of Edinburgh Literatures, Languages & Cultures Postgraduate opportunities Prospectus 2013 entry

“You are now in a place where the best courses upon Earth are within

your reach... such an opportunity you will never again have.”

Thomas Jefferson

American Founding Father and President (speaking to his son-in-law,

Thomas Mann Randolph, as he began his studies in 1786)

Linking research and commerceEdinburgh was one of the first UK universities to actively develop commercial links with industry, government and the professions.

Edinburgh Research and Innovation (ERI) has continued, for the past four decades, to develop the promotion and commercialisation

of the University’s research excellence. ERI assists our postgraduates in taking a first step to market, whether it is through collaborative

research, licensing technology or providing consultancy services.

Enhancing your careerWith the best track record for graduate employment in the Russell Group, the University of Edinburgh is committed to embedding

employability into the teaching and learning experience. From offering access to volunteering schemes to providing support from our

sector-leading Careers Service, the University gives students myriad opportunities to develop the skills, knowledge and experience to give

them the edge in a competitive job market.

An inspiring destinationYour first-class education will take place in one of Europe’s most striking capital cities, which is regularly voted one of the best places in the

world to live. Edinburgh enjoys a solid reputation as a centre for innovation, whether as home to the 18th-century Scottish Enlightenment or

as a modern source of pioneering science, medicine and technology. You couldn’t ask for a more inspiring setting in which to further your

knowledge and broaden your horizons.

Join usEdinburgh offers unparalleled academic breadth and diversity, making it a vibrant, challenging and stimulating environment for postgraduate

study. Whether you plan to change direction, enhance your existing career or develop in-depth knowledge of your area of study, the

University of Edinburgh provides a world-class learning experience.

*Times Higher Education World University Rankings ** Research Assessment Exercise 2008

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Welcome to the School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures

As a postgraduate you have a vast choice of

programmes and research areas to pursue,

including interdisciplinary areas ranging from

film studies to European theatre.

Asian StudiesWe offer a number of one-year and two-year

taught masters degrees in Chinese or Japanese,

tailored for students with or without previous

Chinese or Japanese language knowledge.

We also offer research degrees in Chinese,

Japanese and Sanskrit. Asian Studies hosts an

influential bi-weekly seminar series to share and

exchange views related to China and Japan.

Celtic & Scottish StudiesWe provide taught and research postgraduate

degrees that get to the core of Scottish and

Celtic culture. You have access to unrivalled

archives, with a unique wealth of material. Our

taught masters programmes will give you

confidence in dealing with sources and material

in this area, while our research programmes

allow you to follow your own interests at the

cutting edge of discovery.

English LiteratureEdinburgh has an illustrious history as a literary

capital and our English Literature department,

with 250 years of history, is the oldest in the

world. Our postgraduate studies explore every

type of English Literature, from Medieval

literature, Shakespeare and the Scottish

Enlightenment, to contemporary North

American literature and the history of the book.

You can pursue your own specialism with our

research masters or enjoy our distance learning

programmes, which you can take advantage of

from your own location.

European Languages & CulturesOur well-deserved international reputation

makes the University of Edinburgh an ideal

place to study for a taught MSc in European

Studies or an MSc by Research in modern

European languages: French, German,

Hispanic Studies, Italian, Russian Studies or

Scandinavian Studies.

Islamic & Middle Eastern StudiesThe University of Edinburgh leads the way in

Islamic & Middle Eastern research, having an equal

first-place ranking with the University of Oxford.

We offer a range of higher-level degrees including

research and taught progammes in Islamic and

Middle Eastern studies as well as in diaspora and

translation studies.

Our diverse and wide-ranging School covers every aspect of world culture from Sanskrit to the silver screen. We span five major areas, Asian Studies, Celtic & Scottish Studies, English Literature, European Languages & Cultures, Film Studies, and Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies.

Specialist collectionsIn addition to the impressive range of

resources available at the University’s Main

Library (more than two million printed volumes

and generous online resources) and the

nearby National Library of Scotland, we host a

number of collections of rare and valuable

archival materials, all of which will be readily

available to you as a postgraduate student.

Among the literary treasures are the libraries

of William Drummond, Lewis Grassic Gibbon,

Hugh MacDiarmid, Adam Smith, Dugald

Stewart and Norman MacCaig, plus the WH

Auden collection, the Corson Collection of

works by and about Sir Walter Scott and the

Ramage collection of poetry pamphlets.

We also hold a truly exceptional collection of

early Shakespeare quartos and other early

modern printed plays, and world-class

manuscript and archival collections. Our

cultural collections are highly regarded,

particularly in the areas of Celtic & Scottish

Studies, and Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies.

Hands-on publication experienceAs a postgraduate student, you’ll have the

opportunity to contribute to our student-

produced online journal, Forum. A peer-

reviewed journal for postgraduate students

working in culture and the arts, Forum is

published biannually, providing a platform for

the exchange of intellectual ideas and

encouraging postgraduate participation in

contemporary critical debates. You may

become involved as a contributor, peer

reviewer, or even in an editorial role, gaining

valuable publishing skills that will transfer to a

wide range of possible career roles.

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Facilities and resourcesYour postgraduate experience will take place at the heart of our historic campus, centred in the attractive Georgian buildings of George Square. On hand are all the amenities you would expect, such as offices, computing facilities, common room, kitchen and study areas, and some you wouldn’t, such as our cinema for Film Studies students. Our location gives you easy access to the University’s general facilities, such as the Main Library and our collections, as well as to the National Museum, National Library and National Galleries of Scotland at the heart of the city.


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CommunityYour research will benefit from the opportunity to share and discuss your work with your peers, which we encourage at every stage. The result is a very vibrant graduate school and collaborative environment.

We encourage this through a number of

seminar series, including the student-run Work

in Progress seminars, and the Edinburgh

Literature seminar, which is designed

specifically for staff and postgraduates and

features distinguished visiting speakers. Many

research groups organise their own regular

seminars, and reading groups have been

formed to cover many aspects of literary study.

The Edinburgh experienceYou will find Edinburgh truly inspirational as a

literary or cultural learning environment. A

UNESCO World City of Literature, it hums with an

average of 90 literary events a month, from

readings and discussion groups to poetry slams,

exhibitions and festivals. The Edinburgh

International Festival, Festival Fringe, Book Festival

and Film Festival are all world renowned, bringing

international writers, theatre practitioners and

film-makers to the city, and giving it a cultural

focus that continues beyond the festivals

themselves. Edinburgh is rich in performance

venues and theatres, including the student-run

Bedlam Theatre, and is also home to a host of

prestigious collections in its major galleries: the

Scottish National Portrait Gallery, the Scottish

National Gallery of Modern Art and the Scottish

National Gallery.

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Employability and graduate attributesA postgraduate degree can of course lead you towards a career in academic research. However, you’ll find that your degree programme will also equip you with a range of ancillary skills that can be applied to almost any career in any sector, from publishing to management.

Institute for Academic DevelopmentAll of our postgraduate students have the

opportunity to benefit from the University’s

Institute for Academic Development (IAD), which

provides information, events and courses to

develop the skills you will need now and in the

future. The IAD offers one of the most

established university research and career skills

training packages in the UK. Our IAD experts will

help you gain the skills, knowledge and

confidence needed to move onto the next stage

in your career, be that in a professional sector or

within academia.

The Institute provides PhD researchers and

masters by research students with dedicated

training in topics such as research management;

personal effectiveness; communication skills;

public engagement, networking and

teamworking; leadership and career

management. You can gain expertise in

information technology and presentation skills;

confidence in undertaking independent and

creative research; the ability to critically evaluate

source materials; and the capacity to construct

intellectually rigorous arguments.

For taught postgraduates, the IAD provides a

growing range of tailored study-related and

transferable skills workshops, plus online advice

and learning resources. These are all designed to

help you settle into postgraduate life, succeed

during your studies, and move confidently

onwards to the next stage of

your career.

Developing these broader professional skills and

qualities means that our postgraduate students

are always in high demand.

For more information please visit

www.ed.ac.uk/iad/postgraduates.

Careers ServiceThe University’s award-winning Careers Service

aims to expand the horizons of all our

students, enabling you to make informed

career decisions and progress towards high

personal and professional achievement,

whether in work or in further study. Our goal is

to offer you a world-class service.

Our teams of subject-specific expert advisers

are here to help at any time in your

programme of study. We offer impartial

guidance and information, and draw on our

relationships with a wide range of employing

and training organisations. For more

information on the full range of services

available, including access to vacancies, advice

on starting your own business, getting

published, working internationally or even

volunteering, visit the postgraduate section of

our website at www.ed.ac.uk/careers.


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Taught masters programmesArAb WorLd STUdiESwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/390

MSc 2 yrs FT

Programme descriptionDeveloped in the Centre for the Advanced Study of the Arab World (CASAW) – a groundbreaking UK government initiative established here at Edinburgh in conjunction with the universities of Manchester and Durham – and now housed in the department of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies (IMES), this two-year programme offers a unique opportunity for in-depth study of Arabic language and region-specific culture, history and politics. As well as having access to some of the finest minds in the UK, in the field of Arab-world social and political sciences, arts and humanities, you will also experience a four-month immersion in language and culture in an Arab country, returning for your second year of study with a stronger understanding of the region. Formed with the aim of creating the UK’s leading resource for Arab world expertise, the resources and high profile of CASAW and IMES will see you graduate with a strong and prestigious qualification.

Programme structureThe first eight months of the programme are delivered in Edinburgh, with an intensive focus on language skills. You then spend four months at an approved institution in an Arab country, further developing your skills. The second year includes training in research skills and completion of your dissertation. Throughout the programme you will participate in seminars and tutorials.

Compulsory courses: Intensive Arabic A, B & C; Advanced Arabic D & E; Critical Readings in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies; Advanced Issues in the Study of the Middle East; Research Skills and Methods; and Research Methods and Problems.

Optional courses: can be chosen from those offered by IMES, from elsewhere within the School or the rest of the University. Among these are: Ideology and Political Practice in the Modern Middle East; Mystical Islam; Jihad: Theory and Practice; Cinemas of the Middle East; The Middle-East in International Politics; Islam and the Challenge of Modernity: Critical Issues in Sharia Law; Islam in Modern Societies, The Middle East in International Relations; Christian-Muslim Relations and the Relationship Between the World of Islam and the West; The Arab-Israeli Conflict: Liberty, Land and People.

Career opportunitiesAs the West’s engagement with the Arab world deepens, graduates with expertise in the field are increasingly sought after. This degree will give you the opportunity to take your interest to the doctoral level with further research, and perhaps an academic career. You could also pursue one of the many careers that rely on Arabic language and/or cultural knowledge, in areas such as education, policy or any of the social sciences.

Minimum entry requirements

A UK 2:1 degree, or its international equivalent (www.ed.ac.uk/international/

country).

English language requirements

See page 34

Tuition fees in 2012/13*

2 yrs FT: UK/EU £5,750; international £13,050 per year

*Fees change annually. For the most up-to-date information about fees see

www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding.

Programme Director

Dr Anthony Gorman

T: +44 (0)131 650 4183 E: [email protected]

ASiAn rELigionSwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/768

MSc 1 yr FT (2 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)

Programme descriptionThe only programme of its kind in Europe, this MSc brings together the wide-ranging expertise of our staff in Chinese, Japanese and Indian studies to present an interdisciplinary investigation of the religious traditions of Asia. Rather than focusing on the various religions independently, you will examine them through an interlocked ‘area studies’ approach, delving into their historical entanglement and intercultural transformations.

You will explore contemporary Asian religions in their modern context, focusing on developments and transformations of religions in the pre-modern period and their impact on modern religious traditions. Our links with other Schools within the University mean you will have access to experts in Asian cultures and religions who will be on hand to offer methodological, historical and philological insights on complex intercultural and interdisciplinary issues.

Programme structureOver two semesters you will take two compulsory courses and four optional courses. You will then complete supervised dissertation work and submit a dissertation of 15,000 words.

Compulsory courses: Topics and Methods in Asian Religions; Research Skills & Methods.

Optional courses: Origins of Buddhism; Japanese Religions in the Modern Era; Theory & Method in the Study of Religion; Hindu Traditions: History, Power and Agency; Contemporary Theories of Religion; The Buddhist Brush; Buddhism in the Statutory State; Chinese Religions; Mahayana and Vajrayana in India; Translation of Religious Texts; Selected Themes in the Study of Religion; Religion and Nationalism in the Contemporary World; Christian History in Asia.

Career opportunitiesCompleting this programme will qualify you to undertake research for a PhD, which could lead to an academic career. Your expertise could also lead you to roles within cultural institutions both in the UK and worldwide. Even if you choose to pursue a career in an alternative field, you’ll find that the skills you gain in research, communication, presentation and analysis will give you an edge in the competitive employment marketplace.



country), in an appropriate subject, such as religious studies, philosophy, Asian

studies, politics, classics, theology or history. While you are not expected to have

previous experience of Chinese/Japanese/Indian language or culture, candidates’

experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.


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1 yr FT: UK/EU students £5,750; international £13,050

2 yrs PT: UK/EU £2,875 per year



Programme Director

Dr Joachim Gentz


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ChinESE STUdiESwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/172

Master of Chinese Studies (MChS) 2 yrs FT

Programme descriptionOffering two years of study (double that of most masters programmes) and a funded six-month placement at the prestigious Nankai University in Tianjin, this programme draws on a wide range of expertise in Chinese studies. You’ll develop advanced skills in Modern Standard Chinese (Mandarin) and explore aspects of contemporary Chinese society, culture, economy, politics and business. Catering for students at both the beginner and intermediate language levels, the flexible programme is presented by experts in their respective areas, and places you within a vibrant environment in Edinburgh that actively engages with the Chinese community, both academically and socially. Add to that the experiences and contacts you gain from your time in China, and the value of this demanding but inspirational programme is clear.

Programme structureAs a two-year masters programme, the course is able to provide you with more than 800 hours of language tuition. You will study in interactive multimedia language classes with teachers that include native speakers, in small groups of international students from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds.

Language development will be the key focus in your first year, along with four compulsory courses. The first half of your second year will be spent at Nankai University (flights and accommodation fully paid).

Compulsory courses: Chinese Society and Culture; Politics and Economics after 1978.

Optional courses may include: Outward Investment from Emerging Markets; Corporate Responsibility and Governance in a Global Context; Media Culture in Modern China; Gender, Revolution and Modernity in Chinese Cinema.

Career opportunitiesThis programme will give you the foundation for a career in China-related business, diplomacy, journalism or culture. Alternatively, your studies may inspire you to continue on to research at a doctoral level, and a career as an academic. Even if you choose to pursue a career in an alternative field, you’ll find the skills you gain in research, communication, presentation and analysis will give you an edge in the competitive employment marketplace.



country), in an appropriate subject. A background in the social sciences and

some knowledge of China are helpful but not a requirement. Language learning

skills are an advantage.


See page 34


2 yrs FT: UK/EU £5,750; international £13,050 per year



Programme Director

Professor Natascha Gentz


ComPArATivE & gEnErAL LiTErATUrEwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/173


Programme descriptionAs well as inviting the comparative study of literary works of different linguistic and cultural origins, this absorbing programme encourages you to explore the interrelation between literature and the other arts, such as music, painting and film. You’ll embrace a range of languages and cultures within Europe, North America, South America and Asia, and draw on the teaching and research expertise of our internationally renowned departments, including several of the highest-rated literature departments in the UK.

As well as tutorial work, and your independently researched dissertation, you’ll take part in a series of weekly seminars on subjects related to your studies, such as comparative literature, world literature and post-colonialism, translation studies, intermediality, psychoanalytical criticism, literary semiotics, feminist literary theory, structuralism and post-structuralism, and deconstruction.

Programme structureThe programme combines seminar and tutorial work. You will take two compulsory and two optional courses, plus compulsory research skills and methods courses. The two semesters of taught courses are followed by your independently researched dissertation.

Compulsory courses: Theories and Methods of Literary Study (I and II); Research Skills and Methods; Research Methods and Problems.

Optional courses may include: Baudelaire and Mallarme as Readers of English; Brecht and Beyond: Staging Politics from the 1920s to the Present; Decadence in European Art and Literature, 1857–1914; Poetry, Music and Translation; The Holocaust and Representation in History and Culture; Fantastic Fiction; The Great Russian Novel; Cultural Sensibility in the Age of Richardson’s Clarissa; Don Quixote and the Picaresque in English Literature; History as Romance, Profession, Critique: Theory and Scholarship in the West, 1835 to 1985; From Margin to Centre; The Literary Absolute; Post-Colonial Settlers: Migration and Displacement in Literature and Film; and Romanticism and Victorian Society, 1815–1900.

Career opportunitiesDue to its interdisciplinary nature, this programme will qualify you to take your research interests further into a broad range of fields. You may decide to concentrate on an academic career, or apply your learning to a diversity of roles, from teaching to cultural heritage. You will also graduate with skills that can be applied to any working role, and a highly regarded degree from a prestigious institution.



country), in an appropriate subject. You are also asked to send a writing sample

(in English) of between 3,000 and 4,000 words. This can be a previous essay or

dissertation excerpt submitted as part of your degree studies.


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1 yr FT: UK/EU £5,750; international £13,050




Programme Director

Dr Frauke Matthes



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EAST ASiAn rELATionSwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/800

MSC 1 yr FT (2 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)

Programme descriptionWith two of the leading economic powers situated in East Asia and a huge potential for regional conflict as well as cooperation, East Asia will be the focus of future global politics. This programme is designed to equip students with the knowledge to critically engage with these developments through a recognised masters-level training in both Chinese/Japanese studies and the social, political, historical and cultural dimensions of international relations of East Asia.

The unique combination of expertise across the regions and across disciplines in Asian studies enables both indepth and diversified knowledge about the inter-relatedness of political, cultural and economic factors shaping international relations in the area and across the globe.

Programme structure

You will take three courses over two semesters. The first semester includes two core courses, a general introduction to East Asian relations, plus a course in research skill training, plus one optional course. In the second semester you will choose three optional courses from a wide range of subjects related to specialised regional knowledge and East Asian international relations. During the summer students complete supervised dissertation work.

Compulsory courses: East Asian International Relations; Research Skills and Methods.

Optional courses may include: China and South East Asian International Relations; The Rule of Law and Human Rights in East Asia; East Asian Cultural Relations; State, Society and National Identity in Japan after 1989; Politics and Economics in the PRC after 1978; ‘Political Economy’ in China and Japan, 1850–1950; Media Culture in Modern China; International Relations; International Security; International Political Economy; Comparative Perspectives in Nationalism Studies; Political Theory and International Affairs; Political Theory of International Human Rights; Politics of Identity in South Asia; South Asia: Culture, Economy, Politics.

Career opportunitiesThe aim of this programme is to give you a thorough grasp of the historical and contemporary events, processes and actors involved in creating the dynamics of the East Asian region. Having acquired the tools to analyse and understand the complexities of East Asian relations in a global context, you could progress to a doctoral degree or apply your skills in professional areas, such as diplomacy, international relations and negotiations or journalism.



country), in an appropriate subject. You are also asked to send a writing sample

(in English) of between 3,000 and 4,000 words. This can be a previous essay or

dissertation excerpt submitted as part of your degree studies.


See page 34






Programme Director



EngLiSh LiTErATUrE: CrEATivE WriTingwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/175


Programme descriptionThis programme, presented by established authors and poets, gives you the opportunity to focus in-depth on your own practice, and develop both creative and critical skills through a combination of weekly workshops and seminars. In a supportive yet challenging environment, including discussion of your work with fellow students, you will hone your vision and develop a unique voice. As the first UNESCO World City of Literature, Edinburgh is the ideal setting for an exploration of your literary potential, and we will encourage you to become involved in the creative life of the city.

Programme structureIn each of the two teaching semesters, you will take a core creative practice seminar, supported by workshops in fiction or poetry, and a subsidiary literary critical course in a relevant area of literary study. This will be followed by a substantial independent summer project and dissertation with an individual supervisor.

Optional courses may include: Black Atlantic; From Margin to Centre; The Literary Absolute; Shakespeare’s Sister: Archival Research and the Politics of the Canon; Poet-Critics: the Style of Modern Poetry; Critical Theory: Issues and Debates; Acts of Storytelling: Narrator, Text, Audience; Tragedy and Modernity; The Victorians and the Past; Working Class Representations; Explorations in Postmodernism - Postmodernity and its fictions; Poetry and Northern Ireland; Post-Colonial Settlers: Migration and Displacement in Literature and Film; An English Heritage: Nativism, Language and History in the Work of Four Post-War Poets.

Career opportunitiesHaving honed your creative skills in this programme, and gained insights and possible contacts within the industry, you will be better equipped to tackle the competitive world of creative writing. You may decide to extend your studies to the doctoral level and pursue a career in academia. Alternatively, you may follow your own creative agenda, with the aim of joining the ranks of published authors.



country), in an appropriate subject. We also ask you to supply a portfolio of

writing. For poetry this should be about 10 poems (somewhere between 200 and

400 lines in total); for fiction two or three short stories, or an equivalent amount

from a novel (between 3,000 and 5,000 words).

If you are undecided about whether to apply for fiction or poetry, you should

send a sample of both (if offered a place it will be for one or the other). If

your work is a draft, you can add a note to this effect. Work in other forms (for

example journalism, life writing or advertising) will not be considered.


See page 34






Programme Director

Dr Alan Gillis


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EngLiSh LiTErATUrE: CrEATivE WriTingwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/770

MSc 3 yrs PT

Programme descriptionOur internationally recognised postgraduate degree in creative writing is now available online to study, wherever you are in the world, as a three-year, part-time programme. The programme enables you to focus in-depth on your creative practice, at a pace that allows for work and family commitments.

This online programme offers the same qualification as the on-campus programme but the content and method of delivery are designed for online learning.

You will be taught individually via tutor-student consultations; in small groups for writing forums; and as a class or half-class for webinars. The programme will combine synchronous and asynchronous activities. Time zones will be taken into consideration.

You will spend on average between 10 and 12 hours a week on coursework.

Programme structureThe programme runs for three years, and includes winter, spring and summer breaks from teaching.

We begin with a five-day virtual summer school offering a number of real-time and self-paced activities, including familiarisation with the learning environment Moodle. In years one and two you will take a Literary Studies course in your chosen strand, which involves responding to 10 texts.

The main focus of the programme is on your creative practice, and you will hone your skills through individual consultations with your tutor and through participation in writing forums and webinars with your fellow students.

During year three you will work towards your dissertation portfolio. You will work with a degree of autonomy but regular tutor consultations and writing forums will continue. Through an online conference, ‘The Business’, you will explore the routes your finished creative work can take towards publication.



country), in an appropriate subject. We also ask you to supply a portfolio of

writing. For poetry this should be about 10 poems (somewhere between 200

and 400 lines in total); for fiction two or three short stories, or an equivalent

amount from a novel (between 3,000 and 5,000 words).

If you are undecided about whether to apply for fiction or poetry, you should

send a sample of both (if offered a place it will be for one or the other). If

your work is a draft, you can add a note to this effect. Work in other forms (for

example journalism, life writing or advertising) will not be considered.


See page 34


3 yrs PT: UK/EU £3,000; international £3,000 per year



Programme Director

Dr Dilys Rose


EngLiSh LiTErATUrE: LiTErATUrE & modErniTy: 1900 To ThE PrESEnTwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/177


Programme descriptionIn this programme you will explore the ways literature since 1900 has sought to change and modernise itself, in the context of wider developments of modernity characterising the age. Your studies will take you through a broad and fascinating field, from the originators of literary ‘modernity’ – including TS Eliot, Ezra Pound, James Joyce and Virginia Woolf – to the present day and the continuing impact of their innovations. Studying in the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature, you will analyse the most challenging and exciting literature written in English since 1900, and explore the range of historical, intellectual, cultural, political and philosophical factors informing the period’s writing – particularly in its highly innovative modernist and postmodernist phases.

Programme structureThe programme will be taught through a combination of seminars and tutorials. You will follow one compulsory and one optional course in each of two semesters, along with a course in research methods. You will then complete an independently researched dissertation. The compulsory course, Critical and Cultural Theory, is spread over the two semesters.

Compulsory course: Critical and Cultural Theory

Optional courses may include: Acts of Storytelling; Black Atlantic; Critical Theory: Issues and Debates; Poet-Critics; The Road to 1611: How the English Bible Came into Being; Tragedy and Modernity; The Victorians and the Past; Working Class Representations; Enlightenment and Romanticism 1688–1815; Enlightenment to Entropy: Writing the American Republic from Thomas Jefferson to Henry Adams; An English Heritage; Explorations in Postmodernism; From Margin to Centre; The Literary Absolute; Poetry of Northern Ireland; Post-Colonial Settlers; Shakespeare’s Sister; Romanticism and Victorian Society 1815–1900; and New Beginnings to the End of Days: Writing the American Republic from Reconstruction to 9/11.

Career opportunitiesThis programme will help you to identify possible topics for advanced research, potentially leading to an academic career. The transferable skills you gain, such as communication, project management and analysis, will give you an edge in a competitive employment market.



country), in a relevant discipline is normally required, along with experience or

proven interest in literary translation.


See page 34






Programme Director

Dr Paul Crosthwaite



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EngLiSh LiTErATUrE: LiTErATUrE & SoCiETy: EnLighTEnmEnT, romAnTiC & viCToriAnwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/426


Programme descriptionThis programme, which will appeal to both English literature and history graduates, introduces you to the relationship between literary writing and political and social discourse in Britain and Ireland between the ‘Glorious Revolution’ of 1688 and the end of the 19th century. This is the period of the creation of the ‘Britain’ in which we live today, and also the time in which ‘ancient’ British, Scottish and Irish national cultures were conceptualised as a response to radical literary, social and political innovations. You will examine the role of literary prose and verse in this period, drawing on the expert support of our staff and the outstanding resources of our department.

Programme structureThe programme will be taught through a combination of seminars and tutorials over two semesters, after which you will complete an independently researched dissertation. You will complete two compulsory and two optional courses, along with a course in research methods.

Compulsory courses: Enlightenment and Romanticism 1688–1815; Romanticism and Victorian Society 1815–1900.

Optional courses may include: Acts of Storytelling; Black Atlantic; Critical Theory: Issues and Debates; Poet-Critics; The Road to 1611: How the English Bible Came into Being; Tragedy and Modernity; The Victorians and the Past; Working Class Representations; Enlightenment to Entropy: Writing the American Republic from Thomas Jefferson to Henry Adams; An English Heritage; Explorations in Postmodernism; From Margin to Centre; The Literary Absolute; Poetry of Northern Ireland; Post-Colonial Settlers; Shakespeare’s Sister; Romanticism and Victorian Society 1815–900; New Beginnings to the End of Days: Writing the American Republic from Reconstruction to 9/11.

Career opportunitiesThis programme will help you to identify possible topics for advanced research in English literature, potentially leading to an academic career. The transferable skills you gain, such as communication, project management and analysis, will give you an edge in a competitive employment market.



country), in English Literature, or a relevant discipline, is normally required.


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Programme Director

Dr David Salter


EngLiSh LiTErATUrE: UniTEd STATES LiTErATUrEwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/434


Programme descriptionOn this programme you will explore the way literary, cultural, political and philosophical texts have contributed to the development, interrogation and revision of American identity and culture between 1776 and the present day.

You’ll be introduced to the rich diversity of American writing over the past 250 years by academic staff who can offer outstanding research and teaching expertise in this fascinating field. The compulsory courses have been specifically developed for this masters programme, and offer you the opportunity to think critically about some of the most pressing concerns in literary and cultural studies.

You’ll find a wealth of resources on hand at both the University’s many libraries and the National Library of Scotland, which holds both the Hugh Sharp Collection (more than 300 volumes) of first editions of English and North American authors, and the Henderson Memorial Library of Books on America (more than 700 volumes), containing 19th and early 20th century works mainly on cultural history, description and travel, sociology and biography, and relating mostly to the Civil War.

Programme structureYou will take two courses per semester, one compulsory and one chosen from a range of options, each consisting of a weekly two-hour seminar. Research skills are taught by a combination of staff presentations and workshops. After your two semesters of taught courses you will work towards your dissertation, with supervisor support.

Compulsory courses: Enlightenment to Entropy: Writing the American Republic from Thomas Jefferson to Henry Adams; New Beginnings to the End of Days: Writing the American Republic from Reconstruction to 9/11; Research Skills.

Optional courses may include: Acts of Storytelling; Black Atlantic; Black American Fiction; Contemporary American Fiction; The Modern American Novel; Critical Theory: Issues and Debates; Poet-Critics; An English Heritage; Explorations in Postmodernism; Republican Visions; Gender, Nation and the Novel; From Margin to Centre; The Literary Absolute; Post-Colonial Writing; Utopia II: Suffrage to Cyberpunk.

Career opportunitiesThis programme will provide you with research and analytical skills that can be extended into future advanced study in English literature. You will also be equipped with skills that could take you into a teaching career, or a role within a cultural institution. The array of transferable skills you will acquire, such as communication and project management, will prove highly valuable to potential employers in whatever field you choose to enter.



country), in English Literature, or a relevant discipline, is normally required.

You are also asked to send a writing sample (in English) of between 3,000 and

4,000 words. This can be a previous essay or dissertation excerpt submitted as

part of your degree studies.


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2 yrs PT: UK/EU £2,875



Programme DirectorDr Keith Hughes


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EUroPEAn STUdiESwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/625


Programme descriptionThis masters programme draws on the expertise of staff from across the School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures and focuses on change in the cultures, languages and institutions of contemporary Europe. Staff are committed to interdisciplinary approaches, and will guide you through a programme that merges insights from diverse areas, such as sociolinguistics, ethnology, political sociology and philosophy, as well as literary and cultural studies. While you will of course explore the role of the European Union, you will also examine changes taking place independently of the EU, both between and within European countries. Through optional courses, you will be able to tailor the programme to match your interests, and perhaps prepare for future doctoral study.

Programme structureYou will complete two compulsory and two optional courses over two semesters, as well as skills courses in research and historical methodology. You will then complete an individual project leading to a dissertation of about 15,000 words.

Compulsory courses: Investigating Change in the Institutions, Cultures and Languages of Europe 1&2; Research Skills and Methods; Historical Methodology.

Optional courses may include: Intellectuals and Politics in the 20th Century; New Europeans: Culture, Heritage and the State; The Holocaust and Representation.

Career opportunitiesThe aim of this programme is to equip you with an understanding of the diversity of European cultures, which will allow you to work either commercially or administratively in a European context. Should your aim be to undertake advanced study, you will also benefit from the interdisciplinary nature of the programme, which can open up potential research options that you may not have otherwise considered. Should your career take you into an unrelated field, you will be able to draw on the transferable skills you have acquired, such as communication and project management.



country), in a relevant discipline.


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Programme Director

Dr Sam Coombes


FiLm in ThE PUbLiC SPACEwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/658


Programme descriptionThis programme offers a vocational approach to film curatorship and exhibition. Whether your background is in film, or you’re intrigued by its social and cultural significance, you’ll discover how to take film to audiences and ways to conceptualise and manage exhibitions in a rapidly transforming environment. The programme hosts regular speakers from industry. Through the combination of individual and group work you will integrate theoretical expertise with professional skills, such as establishing industry links, fundraising, marketing, sourcing films and budget management. Project work will enable you to reach out from the University to create events, and you will be encouraged to build collaborations and cross-disciplinary connections that make use of the richness of Edinburgh’s cultural life.

Programme structureTeaching and assignment work will be supported with applied activities including industry research and group projects.

You will be taught in small seminars with individual supervision for your final project (which can take the form of a dissertation, an industry report, collaboration on event planning or digital screen work).

You will complete two compulsory and two optional courses, as well as training in Research Methods and Project Planning and Research Skills.

Compulsory courses: Film in the Public Space (1 & 2).

Optional courses may include: Documentary Filmmaking and Culture; Gender, Revolution and Modernity in Chinese Cinema; Cinema Auteurs; Cinemas of the Middle East; Sound and Fixed Media; Film Theory; Film and the Other Arts; Text and the City; Informatics Entrepreneurship & Digital Marketplace; The Screen and the Unconscious: Film and Psychoanalysis; Music on Screen; Contemporary Japanese Cinema; Theorising Contemporary Art; The Cultures and Politics of Display; African Popular Culture; Visual Anthropology.

Career opportunitiesOn completion of the programme you will have gained the insights and skills essential for a career in film programming, festival organisation and related professional activities. You will also have a transferable skillset in communication, research and project management that can be applied to any career you decide to pursue.



country). Multidisciplinary and comparative approaches are key aspects of film

studies and we therefore welcome students coming from areas of study other

than film. We also ask you to send a writing sample (in English) of between

3,000 and 4,000 words. This can be an essay or dissertation excerpt from your

degree studies.


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Programme Directors

Jane Sillars and Susan Kemp

T: +44 (0)131 650 2945 E: [email protected]; [email protected]


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FiLm STUdiESwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/179


Programme descriptionThis unique and stimulating programme focuses on art and auteur film, but you will also make a comparative study of mainstream cinema. We aim to expand your understanding of the theory and practice of film as well as cultivate your love of cinema. You’ll become familiar with major concepts of filmmaking and theories of film, and gain analytical and critical tools for the investigation of individual films, movements and genres, as well as contexts of production and reception. Edinburgh is an ideal environment for the study of film: we are home to the world-renowned International Film Festival, first-rate art house cinemas, a lively film culture and numerous job opportunities.

Programme structureOver two semesters, taught in small seminars, you will complete two compulsory and two optional courses, as well as being trained in research methods and skills. You will then complete a dissertation project under individual supervision.

Compulsory courses: Film Theory 1 and 2.

Optional courses may include: Avant-Garde Film; Cinema Auteurs; Cinemas of the Middle East; Documentary Filmmaking and Culture; Practice-Based Research and Documentary Filmmaking in the Digital Age; Film and the Other Arts; Gender, Revolution and Modernity in Chinese Cinema.

Career opportunitiesThis programme is an excellent chance to develop your film interests and build your CV with a view to a career in academia or in any film or media related field. You’ll be introduced to Scotland’s lively film culture, with exceptional opportunities to network within the field. You will also gain transferable skills in communication, research and project management that can be applied to any career you decide to pursue.



country). Multidisciplinary and comparative approaches are key aspects of film

studies and we therefore welcome students coming from areas of study other

than film. You also ask you to send a writing sample (in English) of between 3,000

and 4,000 words. This can be an essay or dissertation excerpt from your degree

studies.


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Programme Director

Professor Martine Beugnet


highLAnd STUdiESwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/180


Programme descriptionThere is no better place to explore the Scottish Gaelic language, and the culture, history, literature and current circumstances of the Gàidhealtachd. Gaelic has been taught and studied at the University of Edinburgh for more than 120 years, and our Chair in Scottish History is the oldest in the world. This flexible programme allows you to tailor your learning to your particular interests, while gaining the essential research, language and other skills you need to investigate this richly rewarding area of study. You’ll have access to the impressive School of Scottish Studies Archives, which contain unique collections of oral, musical and material culture, as well as the extensive resources of the National Library of Scotland, the National Archives of Scotland, the National Museum of Scotland, and the Royal Commission for the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland.

Programme structureModern and medieval Gaelic language is taught in mixed classes of undergraduates and postgraduates of broadly similar ability, including spoken, written and conversational elements. Some courses are taught by teams of experts; others are taught by a single tutor. You will complete six courses, of which at least one is a skills course, at least one is a language course, and at least one is a specialist course. After two semesters of taught courses you will work towards your individual dissertation.

Optional courses may include: Language Shift and Language Revitalisation in the Gàidhealtachd; The Life and Works of Adomnan of Iona; Scotland and Heritage; Traditional Drama, Traditional Song – Gaelic; Traditional Drama.

Career opportunitiesAs well as an understanding of the Gàidhealtachd past and present, and Gaelic language, you will graduate with a knowledge of current directions within Gàidhealtachd studies and the research skills that will allow you to pursue further specialist expertise. You will also gain transferable skills, including critical thinking, formulating balanced and informed arguments and handling feedback.



country), in a relevant discipline is normally required.


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Programme Director

Dr Wilson McLeod


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iSLAmiC & middLE EASTErn STUdiESwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/181


Programme descriptionIn this programme you’ll gain an advanced, interdisciplinary understanding of the history, modern politics and culture of the Islamic Middle East, and explore the paradigms behind the various disciplines within this field. Recognised in the UK and internationally as a leading institution for research and undergraduate and postgraduate study, our department is well resourced. We are home to the Centre for the Advanced Study of the Arab World (in conjunction with the universities of Durham and Manchester), and the Alwaleed Bin Talal Centre. We boast an impressive library of current and archival material.

Programme structureThe programme will combine seminar work, oral presentations and essays. You will complete two compulsory courses, two research units and two optional courses over two semesters, followed by an independently researched dissertation. Your optional courses can be chosen from within IMES or from other disciplines such as history, divinity, politics or international relations. You may also take additional language courses in introductory Persian, Turkish or Arabic.

Compulsory courses: Critical Readings in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies; Advanced Issues in the Middle East.

Optional courses may include: An Introduction to Twelver Shi’ism; Cinemas of the Middle East; Diasporas of the Middle East; Early Islamic Political Thought; The Harem and the Body: Space and Gender in Middle Eastern Literatures; Christian-Muslim Relations and the Relationship between the World of Islam and the West; Ideology and Political Practice in the Modern Middle East; Islam in Modern Societies; Jihad: Theory and Practice; Mystical Islam; The Arab-Israeli Conflict: Liberty, Land and People; The History of Islamicate Medicine; International Relations of the Middle East; Politics of the Middle East; and Ritual and Religion.

Career opportunitiesThe aim of this course is to provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to advance to doctoral study, and perhaps an academic career. You may also choose to apply your skills to a role that involves the Islamic community, or use your transferable communication, research and other skills in an unrelated area.





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Programme Director

Dr Andrew Newman


JAPAnESE SoCiETy & CULTUrEwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/182

MSc 1 yr PT (2 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)

Programme descriptionContemporary Japanese culture is a dazzling fusion of western and eastern traditions adapted to a hypermodern way of life. Japanese society, too, stands at the vanguard of post-industrial nations overcoming domestic crises and meeting global challenges. This programme provides indepth knowledge about the culture and society of a leading nation in East Asian regional and global developments.

This stimulating programme caters for students with and without Japanese language skills. It builds on any existing experience, using Japanese source materials and secondary literature for research purposes, while also providing an extensive understanding of scholarship in Japanese culture written in English.

With support from staff with proven expertise, you will have the opportunity to enhance your language skills – whatever your current level – and acquire specialist knowledge of Japanese culture, and awareness of the interaction of Japanese and other cultures in the contemporary context.

Programme structureThe programme is taught by a combination of seminar and tutorials. You will take one compulsory and four optional courses, plus a language course and a compulsory research skills and methods course. After two semesters of taught courses you will work towards your individual dissertation.

Compulsory course: Key Topics in Japanese Society and Culture.

Optional courses may include: State, Society and National Identity in Japan after 1989; Japanese Religions in the Modern Era; Traditional Japanese Theatre and its Contemporary Performance; Written Translation Exercises; Social and Political Thought in Modern Japan; Contemporary Japanese Cinema; Japanese Performing Arts in Global Context; The Buddhist Brush: Discursive and Graphic Expressions of Japanese Buddhism.

Career opportunitiesAlthough this programme is conceived as a coherent whole, it has also been designed to prepare you for progression to a research degree. As well as continuing in an academic career, you could apply your skills in professional areas relating to Japanese culture and trade, such as diplomacy or business. Your transferable skills in communication, research and project management will be invaluable should you choose to enter an unrelated field.





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Programme Director

Professor Urs Matthias Zachmann



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LiTErAry TrAnSLATion AS CrEATivE PrACTiCEwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/699


Programme descriptionDrawing on our impressive staff expertise in both literary translation and specific languages, this programme will introduce you to the importance of creativity in adapting literary works from their original language. You’ll be encouraged to approach translation exercises in your specific choice of language with originality, inspiration and resourcefulness. You will be supported as you gain confidence and competence in literary text production. We’ll encourage critical thinking on language use, translation and writing, and help you to broaden and deepen your understanding of a variety of issues in relation to translation and writing, such as gender, power relations, ideology, religion and multimedia.

Excellent resources abound in Edinburgh, such as the extensive specialist collections in the University’s Main Library, the National Library of Scotland, the Scottish Poetry Library and the Scottish Storytelling Centre. You will also have access to a wide range of online collections.

Programme structureThe programme will be taught through a combination of lectures, practical work (a portfolio of literary translation exercises), seminars, guest seminars, essays, tutorials and a research project.

We advise you to contact us in advance to find out about the availability of particular language combinations in any given year.

Over two semesters you will complete two compulsory and two optional courses, along with translation exercises. You will then prepare an independently researched 15,000-word dissertation.

Compulsory courses: Translation and Creativity; Portfolio of Literary Translation Exercises; Research in Translation Studies.

Optional courses may include: Technology and Translation in the Workplace; Baudelaire and Mallarmé as Readers of English; Decadence in European Art and Literature; Music, Poetry and Translation; Fantastic Fiction; Brecht and Beyond; Borges and Calvino; The Great Russian Novel; Media Cultures in Modern China; Literary Criticism and History in Modern China; The Harem and the Body: Space and Gender in Middle Eastern Literatures; New Europeans: Culture, Heritage and State; Holocaust and its Representation in History and Literature; and Hispanic Transatlantic and French Caribbean Literatures and Cultures.

Career opportunitiesThis qualification will equip you for progression to doctoral studies, and you may choose to continue in academia as a career. You will also have the skills required to undertake commissioned translation assignments, or your own creative projects. The transferable skills you gain, such as communication, project management and analysis, will give you an edge in any job market you decide to enter.



country), in a relevant discipline, along with experience and/or interest in literary

translation.


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Programme Director

Dr Hephzibah Israel


LiTErATUrE & TrAnSATLAnTiCiSmwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/183


Programme descriptionThe hegemony of Atlantic civilisation has been central to the modern world, and complex interchanges between the Americas, Europe and Africa are a fundamental feature of modern life. This innovative programme introduces you to key concepts and theories of transatlanticism, and explores the transnational and multilingual networks of Atlantic cultures, ranging across English- Spanish- and French-speaking countries.

As well as offering the programme in English, we can offer a multilingual approach (English plus Spanish and/or French), enabling you to examine Atlantic cultures in a genuinely comparative manner. You will have access to the academic expertise and other resources that have made us one of the top three departments in the UK.

Programme structureThe programme will be taught through a combination of seminars and tutorials over two semesters, after which you will complete an independently researched dissertation. You will complete two compulsory and two optional courses, along with a course in research methods.

Compulsory courses: Theory and Practice in Transatlantic Comparison; Core Themes and Texts in Transatlantic Study.

Optional courses may include: Modernism Before the War; The Black Atlantic; US Literature: Enlightenment to Entropy; Poets-Critics: The Style of Modern Poetry; Post-Colonial Poetry; Cities of Words; Writing the Body Politic; Post-Colonial Pacific Writing; Hispanic Transatlantic and the French-Speaking Caribbean; America Translated: Baudelaire and Mallarmé, Whistler and Poe; US Literature: New Beginnings to the End of Days; Post-Colonial Settlers: Migration and Displacement in Literature and Film; Post-Colonial Writing; Queering Fictions; Translation Studies 2.

Career opportunitiesThis programme will help you to identify possible topics for advanced research in literature, potentially leading to an academic career. The transferable skills you gain, such as communication, project management and analysis, will give you an edge in any job market.





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Programme Director

Dr Fiona Mackintosh


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mATEriAL CULTUrES & ThE hiSTory oF ThE bookwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/392


Programme descriptionBased at the University’s internationally recognised Centre for the History of the Book, this programme brings together theory and practice to explore cultural history, intensive archival research and the latest intellectual developments in this specialised field. You’ll be taught by leading international experts, combining traditional bibliography, special collections training and advanced theoretical approaches, to advance your knowledge and practical skills. As well as the major manuscript and printed collections held by the University, and the National Library of Scotland (which holds one of the most important collections for the study of bibliography in Europe) you will have access to the Drummond Press, a handprinting press that serves the dual roles of living museum and teaching facility.

Programme structureYou will complete two compulsory and two optional courses, along with a course in research methods, over two semesters, followed by an independently researched dissertation.

Compulsory courses: Cultures of the Book; Working with Collections.

Optional courses may include: Expanding the Book: Image and Literacy in Valois France; The Literature Industry; The Medieval Bible; Material Culture of Gender in the 18th Century; Text and Context; Enlightenment in Britain 1688–1801; The Hypernovel from Boccacio to Manganelli; Shakespeare’s Sister: Archival Research and the Politics of the Canon; Culture and Society in Early Modern Britain.

Career opportunitiesThis programme will equip you with the detailed knowledge and research skills you need to progress to a research degree. You may then choose to continue a career in academia, or take on a role relating to any of the special collections housed around the world. You will graduate with a number of highly transferable skills in communication, project management and analysis that will give you an advantage whatever your chosen career.





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Programme Director

Dr Jonathan Wild


mEdiA, CULTUrE & PrACTiCEwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/662


Programme descriptionA stimulating blend of practical and theory-based learning, this programme provides an interdisciplinary foundation for research into diverse forms of media representation. The emphasis is on the philosophical, political and ethical implications of media practices, and the knowledge created through lens-based and audio-visual approaches to cultural research. You’ll have access to the University’s generous resources, including networked computers, digital video equipment, editing and sound facilities, and specialised library sections on cinema. Our involvement with the Scottish Documentary Institute’s masterclasses and One World Media workshops offer invaluable opportunities for practical experience, while the University’s own Centre for Film, Performance and Media Arts will encourage collaboration and the creation of industry networks.

Programme structureYou will take part in small-group seminars, and will be offered regular consultations with your supervisor in order to assess your progress. The programme includes training in media research skills and practice-based approaches, while specialisation is possible through course options.

You will complete two compulsory and two optional courses, along with courses in research methods, over two semesters, followed by an independently researched dissertation or practice-based research project.

Compulsory courses: Media, Culture & Practice 1: The Politics of Representation; Media, Culture & Practice 2: Critical Media Practices; Research Skills and Methods; Critical Media Practice and Cultural Research.

Optional courses may include: Visual Anthropology; Anthropology & Photography; Theorising the Photographic Image; Constructing Reality: Documentary Film; Sound Design Media; Sound and Fixed Media; The Aesthetics and Politics of Contemporary Art; Social & Cultural Geography; Media & Culture; Media Culture in Modern China; Cinemas of the Middle East; The Holocaust and Representation in History & Culture; The Society of the Spectacle.

Career opportunitiesThis programme will provide a foundation for written and practice-based research into diverse forms of media representation – you may identify a potential research topic during your studies, and continue on to a doctoral degree. You will also be ready to engage reflectively and meaningfully in a media industry role.



country), in a relevant discipline is normally required. You will also need to send

a writing sample (in English) of between 2,000 and 3,000 words, which can be

an essay or dissertation excerpt from your degree studies. If available, please also

submit a sample of your media work – a documentary film or other work such

as photography, website design, a blog, etc, which you consider to be your best

work to date.


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Programme Director

Dr Nick Higgins



16

mEdiEvAL LiTErATUrES And CULTUrESwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/184


Programme descriptionEdinburgh hosts a thriving medieval research culture. This flexible programme gives you the chance to draw on the broad range of academic expertise you’ll find here, and take advantage of the seminar series and the other resources of our Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies. You will gain a grounding in advanced literary study of the European Middle Ages, and the principles of manuscript study. Through optional courses and a research project, you’ll have the opportunity to deepen your particular Medieval interests, drawing on our strengths in the languages and literatures of Medieval Europe, from Medieval French and Latin to, for example, Old Norse, Old Irish and Middle English. Optional courses include those from the fields of history, Scottish studies, art history and divinity. You’ll also have access to the impressive collections of the University, the National Library of Scotland, the National Museum of Scotland, the National Archives and the National Galleries.

Programme structureThe programme will be conducted through two semesters of seminars and workshops, followed by your independently researched dissertation.

Compulsory courses: Reading the Middle Ages; Working with Pre-Modern Manuscripts.

Optional courses may include: The Quest for Identity in Medieval Spain; Epic and Romance in Medieval Spain; Falling in Love in the Middle Ages; Old Norse; Medieval Romance and Chivalry and Crusade in Medieval France.

Career opportunitiesThe flexibility of focus this programme offers makes it an ideal foundation for advanced study, potentially leading to an academic career. Teaching or curatorship roles in cultural institutions are alternative career pathways, while the transferable skills you gain in communication, project management and presentation will prove a valuable asset to employers in any field.



country), in a relevant discipline is normally required. Some study of the Middle

Ages is desirable, but not essential.


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Programme Director

Dr Sarah Carpenter


middLE EASTErn diASPorASwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/700


Programme descriptionThis programme is the first of its kind in the UK, offering a unique insight into, and understanding of, the Middle East, its diversity and its people. It brings together the disciplines of Middle Eastern studies and diaspora studies, providing an intellectually rigorous and rewarding opportunity to explore the vibrant blend of cultures, religions and ethnicities of the Middle East and their impact in the region and beyond. Your studies will focus on Middle East minorities, diasporas and relationships with their ‘others’, and produce a multi-layered understanding of the region. As one of the best places in the UK for Middle Eastern studies, we can draw on expertise from across the University, in particular Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies (IMES), the Centre for the Advanced Study of the Arab World and the Alwaleed bin Talal Centre.

Programme structureThe programme will combine seminar work, oral presentations and essays. You will complete two core courses, two research units and two optional courses over two semesters, followed by an independently researched dissertation. Your optional courses can be chosen from within IMES or from other disciplines such as history, divinity, politics or international relations. You may also take additional language courses in introductory Persian, Turkish or Arabic.

Compulsory courses: Diaspora Studies: Theories, Concepts and Methodologies; Diasporas of the Middle East.

Optional courses may include: Cinemas of the Middle East; Christian-Muslim Relations and the Relationship Between the World of Islam and the West; The Harem and the Body: Space and Gender in Middle Eastern Literatures; Ideology and Political Practice in the Modern Middle East; Religion and Global Society; The Middle East in International Relations; South Asia: Culture, Politics & Economy; The Politics of Migration in Europe; Refugees; Post-Colonial Settlers: Migration and Displacement in Literature and Film; The Armenian Genocide; The Politics of Historiography in Post-Colonial South Asia.

Career opportunitiesPerfectly suited as a foundation for doctoral studies, this programme could lead to an academic career in Middle Eastern studies. You could also take your knowledge and skills into one of the many fields that address Middle Eastern issues. Additionally, you will have gained highly transferable skills in communication, research and project management that will be of use in any career.



country). Ideally you will have a background in the social sciences or Middle

Eastern studies.


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Programme Director

Dr Anthony Gorman


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modErn ChinESE CULTUrAL STUdiESwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/391


Programme descriptionThis programme is based at the University’s Scottish Centre for Chinese Studies, which has an international reputation for research excellence in modern Chinese literature, media and mass culture. It provides you with the opportunity to develop your knowledge and understanding of cultural issues of modern China, and allows you to develop analytical skills as you apply cultural and literary theories to the context of modern China. You’ll be trained in the study of Chinese texts, and learn to assess them in the context of current academic discourse in Chinese Studies, leading to an understanding of changing perceptions of key issues in Chinese cultural studies.

Programme structure You will follow two semesters of compulsory and optional courses, plus research skills courses, after which you will complete an independently researched dissertation. There is an option to study Chinese language, as a beginner or intermediate learner.

Compulsory courses: Keywords of Chinese Modernity; Media Culture in Modern China.

Optional courses may include: Literary Criticism and History in Modern China; Theories and Methods of Literary Study; Critical and Cultural Theory; Contemporary Chinese Literature; Gender, Revolution and Modernity in Chinese Cinema; Text and Context; Introduction to Chinese Society and Culture.

Career opportunitiesYou will gain a foundation on which you may choose to pursue doctoral studies, potentially leading to an academic career. Your skills will also be suited to a career in a number of fields that are concerned with Chinese issues. Alternatively, you may choose to apply the transferable skills you gain in project management, research and communication to an unrelated career.



country), in Chinese is normally required.


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Programme Director



ThEATrE And PErFormAnCE STUdiESwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/774

MSc FT 1 yr (2 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)

Programme descriptionAn ideal environment for the study of theatre, Edinburgh brings the performing arts alive through its many theatres, performing companies and, of course, the famous Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. This programme draws on this inspiration, as well as the research and practical expertise of our exceptional body of staff, which ranges across a broad sweep of cultures and historical periods. You’ll be introduced to dramatic and theoretical material from different periods and cultures, and explore the differing conceptions of the roles and perceived dangers of dramatic representation and performance in those cultural contexts. Supporting your studies will be the resources of our newly created Centre for Film, Performance, and Media Arts, as well as internship opportunities with local companies and theatres.

Programme structureIn each of the two semesters you will take two courses, one compulsory and one chosen from a wide range of options, plus research skills courses. You will then work towards an individually researched dissertation.

You will have the opportunity to take internships with theatre institutions across the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow and to work with performing artists-in-residence, who will offer workshops in each semester. You will also be encouraged to attend theatre productions in Edinburgh.

Compulsory courses: The Autonomy of Performance: Concepts and Craft; Theatre, Performance, Performativity.

Optional courses may include: The Society of the Spectacle; Theatre and Society; Brecht and Beyond; Russian Theatre; The Golden Age of French Theatre; Traditional Scottish Drama; Film and the Other Arts; Cinema Auteurs; Constructing Reality.

Career opportunitiesDuring this programme, you may identify a topic which you would like to progress to a research degree, and potentially a career in academia. Alternatively, the skills you gain and the networks you develop during any internship you undertake, will equip you to enter the thriving world of the arts as a practitioner or administrator. And you will have gained a number of highly transferable skills in communication, project management and research that can help to open doors to any career you choose.



country), in an appropriate subject. Candidates must also supply a sample of

written work.


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Programme Director

Dr Olga Taxidou



18

TrAnSLATion STUdiESwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/251

MSc FT 1 yr (2 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)

Programme descriptionOffering an effective blend of theory and practice, this programme aims to enhance your practical skills in translation with an intellectual perspective on the discipline of translation studies, drawing on the expertise of highly qualified researchers. You’ll develop critical thinking on language use and translation, learn to implement various translation strategies and broaden your understanding of a variety of issues in relation to translation, such as gender, power relations and religion.

Programme structureThe programme is taught through a combination of lectures and exercises in practical translation, in conjunction with individual tutorials, student presentations and guest lectures. You will complete four compulsory courses covering translation studies, research methods and practical translation, plus two optional courses. After two semesters of taught courses you will work on an independently researched dissertation.

Compulsory courses: Translation Studies 1; Research in Translation Studies; Portfolio of Written Translation Exercises 1&2.

Optional courses may include: Technology and Translation in the Workplace; Baudelaire and Mallarmé as Readers of English; Decadence in European Art and Literature; Music, Poetry and Translation; Fantastic Fiction; Brecht and Beyond; Borges and Calvino; The Great Russian Novel; Media Cultures in Modern China; Literary Criticism and History in Modern China; The Harem and the Body: Space and Gender in Middle Eastern Literatures; New Europeans: Culture, Heritage and State; Holocaust and its Representation in History and Literature; and Hispanic Transatlantic and French Caribbean Literatures and Cultures.

Career opportunitiesThis programme will give you the skills and confidence you need to take your interest in translation to an advanced level, either with a research degree or a role in a related field. You will also graduate with a number of transferable skills, such as communication and research, that will help you gain employment in any area you choose.



country), in a relevant discipline, plus a research interest or professional

experience in translation or another relevant field. Your personal statement in

the online application process needs to show an awareness of what translation

studies is. You should indicate the languages you wish to take – a maximum of

two – and contact us to check their availability. You will always translate into and

out of English.


See page 34






Programme Director

Dr Charlotte Bosseaux

T: +44 (0)131 651 3735 E: charlotte.bosseaux @ed.ac.uk

viking STUdiESwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/665


Programme descriptionStrongly interdisciplinary in focus, this programme aims to provide you with a fuller understanding of the Viking diaspora and its legacy. You’ll move beyond compartmentalisation of knowledge and enquiry, regarding the historical developments referred to collectively as the Viking Age, and develop an awareness of the nature and limits of the evidence for this engrossing field of study, along with the ability to engage critically with scholarly models, leading to an advanced understanding of the Viking expansion.

Programme structureThis programme combines seminar and tutorial work with presentations, essays and assignments. Over two semesters, you will take two compulsory and three optional courses, as well as a course in research skills and methods. You will then produce an independently researched dissertation.

Compulsory courses: Methods and Sources in First Millennium Studies; Old Norse Studies.

Optional courses may include: The Dal Riata; War and Society in Dark Age Scotland; Kingship in Early Medieval Scotland; Normandy and the Normans c900–1204; The Celtic Question: Art in Early Britain and Ireland.

Career opportunitiesBy following this programme you will develop the practical skills and intellectual autonomy necessary for advanced research, and potentially an academic career. The transferable skills you gain will also be of use should you decide to pursue a career in an unrelated area.





See page 34






Programme Director

Dr Alan Macniven


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Programme descriptionLed by a professional playwright, this unique programme focuses on the practical exploration of the theory and craft of writing for performance. It focuses on how a script is written to be interpreted by the key creative artists in theatre and how that script plays out in space and time in front of an audience. Through seminars, tutorials, workshops and professional masterclasses (led by some of Europe’s leading playwrights and theatre artists), you will develop an understanding of live performance theory, self-motivation and the focus necessary to work as an independent artist within the theatre industry. Edinburgh hosts a buzzing theatre scene, and the programme draws on this to culminate in a public, professional reading of your work-in-progress at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Programme structureThe programme will be taught through a combination of seminars, workshops, independent study, one-to-one supervision and professional masterclasses. There will also be regular theatre visits.

A central component of the programme will be development workshops with professional actors and established directors, focusing on your own work. You will also work with the performing artists-in-residence, who will offer workshops in each semester. Over two semesters you will take three core courses and one optional course.

On completion of these courses, you will produce a major piece of performance writing, supported by one-to-one supervision and development workshops, to be given a professional reading at the end of the programme.

Compulsory courses: The Craft of the Playwright I; Time and Space of Performance; The Craft of the Playwright II.

Optional courses may include: Theatre, Performance and Performativity; Film and the Other Arts; Pirandello; Spanish Golden Age Theatre: Performance

and Engagement; Twentieth-Century Spanish Theatre; Russian Theatre: From the Modernist Impulse to the Present; Theatre and Society; and Postmodern Debates.

Career opportunitiesThis programme is highly practical and allows you to forge valuable links within Edinburgh’s performing arts community. You may choose to use the research skills you have developed to pursue advanced study, or seek a role within the theatrical field. The transferable skills you gain from your studies, such as communication, research and project management, will be valuable to your career development whatever path you choose.



country), in a relevant discipline is normally required, or equivalent professional

experience. You must supply a portfolio of writing for live performance of

about 45 minutes’ playing time: you should make a selection of extracts from

your writing rather than sending full scripts. This should be accompanied by a

personal statement outlining relevant experience, particular writing interests and

why you want to study writing for theatre.


See page 34






Programme Director

Dr Nicola McCartney



20

Research at the School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures

The School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures is

the ideal postgraduate environment in which to

explore a vibrant range of subjects that cover a

wealth of human thought and experience. We

are engaged fully in all disciplines, with our

researchers working across all possible periods

and areas of study. This breadth and diversity,

combined with our international outlook,

world-class resources and inspirational location,

mean you can shape your postgraduate study to

suit your interests and intended career path.

Our international reputation has been built on

the strength of our research and our highly

specialised resources and facilities. A five-minute

stroll will take you to the National Library of

Scotland, with a collection that reflects its status

as one of only six copyright libraries in the UK.

The University’s Main Library is a further

impressive resource, which is supplemented by

an array of specialist libraries and archival

collections. Should your research area demand it,

you could find yourself working with valuable

original archival materials without the need to

travel the world.

Choose your degreeAs a postgraduate research student you can

enrol for a one-year MSc by Research, a

two-year MPhil or a three-year PhD, in one of

the following subject areas:

Celtic & Scottish Studies

Chinese

Comparative Literature

English Literature

European Theatre

Film Studies

French

German

Hispanic Studies

Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies

Italian

Japanese

Medieval Studies

Russian

Sanskrit

Scandinavian Studies

Scottish Ethnology

Transdisciplinary Documentary Film

Translation Studies

Linking culture with languageWhile many institutes offer a focus on

languages in isolation, we believe that at this

highest level of research, language and culture

are inseparable. Our language research areas

encourage you to use a rounded approach to

both the linguistic and cultural aspects of your

field of study.

Wide range of career optionsWhile many of our students go on to further

academic research, a large number prefer to

pursue careers related to their research within

the public and private sectors. You may decide

to apply your language and cultural skills in a

local or international role, or use your research

experience, analytical skills and project

management expertise in an area that may not

be directly related to your research subject.

Either way, your postgraduate studies will

enhance your prospects for career fulfilment

and success.

21

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Research opportunitiesCELTiC & SCoTTiSh STUdiES

www.ed.ac.uk/pg/248

PhD 3 yrs FT (6 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)

MPhil 2 yrs FT (4 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)

MSc by Research 1 yr FT (2 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)

Research environment

Our area of study is the languages, literatures and cultures of the Celtic

and Gaelic peoples, from Iron Age Europe to the present. As a

postgraduate research student, you will benefit not only from our highly

regarded academic staff and impressive collection of research resources

but also from our commitment to enhancing your research skills

through a mandatory comprehensive training programme.

Cross-disciplinary culture

Our field of research spans a number of disciplines. Recent work has

encompassed archaeology, divinity, education and linguistics, with

thesis topics including Gaelic oral literature and Celtic history. Our

research interests include Scottish, Irish and Welsh Celtic literature and

literary tradition in the Medieval and modern periods, the Gaelic

languages and dialects, and Celtic sociolinguistics and language policy.

World-class resources

You will have access to an outstanding range of facilities and resources

for your research. The Celtic Class Library, which holds a wide range of

specialist materials, and the larger Scottish Studies Library are situated

within the department, and the National Library of Scotland is within a

short walk. The School of Scottish Studies Archives include songs, tales

and the Linguistic and Place-names Surveys of Scotland. You’ll be given

comprehensive training in the use of these resources, and will be

encouraged to use original sources, and to gain hands-on experience,

whether in reading Medieval manuscripts or in handling electronically

stored data.


PhD and MPhil

FT: UK/EU £3,828; international £11,450 per year

PT: UK/EU £1,914 per year

MSc by Research

FT: UK/EU £5,750; international £13,050


*Fees change annually. For the most up-to-date information about fees

see www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding.

ChinESE

www.ed.ac.uk/pg/249




Growing engagement

Scotland’s engagement with China is set to become even stronger,

particularly in light of Scotland’s China Strategy. Given this, and the

international standing of our Scottish Centre for Chinese Studies,

researching this field from the Scottish capital makes perfect sense.

Our internationally respected academic staff, excellent facilities and

academic, professional and cultural links with the Chinese community

and Chinese organisations, reinforce the world-leading nature of our

research, and the prestige of our postgraduate opportunities.


Our research options centre on the interests of our Chinese members

of staff – which include modern culture, classical modern literature,

media and film, ancient philosophy and religion, and modern Chinese

politics. As a postgraduate student you’ll be part of the Scottish Centre

for Chinese Studies, with strong links to researchers at other Scottish

institutions that provide a wealth of networking and collaboration

opportunities.

In addition, interdisciplinary seminars will widen your perspectives and

introduce you to fellow students in related areas of research. You’ll

enjoy comprehensive library resources and exceptional computer

facilities in the Arts Microlab, including Chinese wordprocessing.

Making connections

We encourage engagement with Chinese culture during your research,

enabled through our strong links and associations. The Confucius

Institute for Scotland – a national centre promoting ties between

Scotland and China, based at the University of Edinburgh – offers

flexible language programmes as well as courses on many aspects of

contemporary China, lectures by distinguished visiting speakers, cultural

events and space for leisure and social contacts with the Chinese

community. You’re also able to join in with the cultural and social

events organised by the Edinburgh University Chinese Cultural Society

and the Scotland China Association.


PhD and MPhil



MSc by Research





You may also be interested in:

Scottish Ethnology – see page 30

Scottish History – see the School of History, Classics & Archaeology

Prospectus.


Cultural Studies – see the Edinburgh College of Art Prospectus.


22

ComPArATivE LiTErATUrE

www.ed.ac.uk/pg/252




Part of our European Languages & Cultures research area, Comparative

Literature involves the study of literary works of different linguistic and

cultural systems, and encourages exploration of the interrelations

between literature and the other arts. In the course of your research,

you will be focusing on literary themes, genres and historical periods

from the perspective of comparative study.

Wide choices

Our research options embrace a range of languages and cultures within

Europe, North America, South America and Asia. We can provide you

with supervision on a wide range of topics within the School, including

European and world literature, word and image, word and music, and

film. Further expertise is available from the extensive pool of specialists

researching across the University.

Extensive resources

You will have ready access to the National Library of Scotland, a leading

research library, as well as the University’s Main Library, which provides a

wealth of primary and secondary texts and journals and is home to our

Centre for Research Collections. Edinburgh’s many museums and art

house cinemas are a further rich resource.


PhD



MSc by Research






French, German, Italian, Film Studies, European Theatre, Japanese,

Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies, English Literature, Chinese, Celtic &

Scottish Studies, Hispanic Studies, Russian, Translation Studies – see

entries within this Prospectus.

African Studies – see the School of Social & Political Science

Prospectus.

Canadian Studies – see the School of Social & Political Science

Prospectus.

Music – see the Edinburgh College of Art Prospectus.

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PhD (English Literature, PhD Creative Writing)



(MSc by Research English Literature; MSc by Research American

Literature; MSc by Research Critical Theory; MSc by Research

Medieval Literature in Scotland and England; MSc by Research

Post-Colonial Literature; MSc by Research Renaissance Literature;

MSc by Research Romanticism; MSc by Research Scottish Literature;

MSc by Research Victorian Literature)

Research with heritage

It’s not every graduate who can claim to have earned a degree at the

oldest department of English Literature in the world. We first offered

courses on ‘rhetoric and belles lettres’ 250 years ago, and have been

renowned as a vigorous centre of scholarship, teaching and learning

ever since. We are one of the top three departments of English

Lirerature in the UK, according to the latest Research Assessment

Exercise. Our location in the first UNESCO City of Literature places you at

the heart of a major cultural centre, enriching your experience with

opportunities for literary engagement through world-class facilities and

events, such as the National Library of Scotland and the Edinburgh

International Book Festival.

Wealth of options

We have one of the largest graduate offerings in English Literature in

the country, with an expansive range of research possibilities. These

include each of the main periods of English and Scottish Literature –

Medieval, Renaissance/Early Modern, Enlightenment, Romantic, and the

19th and 20th centuries – along with all genres of literary analysis:

literary and critical theory, literary history, the history of the book,

cultural studies, gender studies, post-colonial literature and American

studies. Scottish literature is particularly favoured: we are home to the

Centre for Scottish Writing in the 19th Century.

Our interdisciplinary approach also encourages the development of

research projects that span various subject areas across our School, the

wider University and the cultural life of the city itself. Alternatively, if you

have completed an MSc in Creative Writing, you may choose to take

your work to a higher level with our PhD in Creative Writing.

For MSc by Research students, we offer eight ‘pathway’ programmes

and two routes to the MSc by Research in English Literature itself:

dissertation only, where the student pursues a substantial research

project; and coursework plus dissertation, where the student writes two

essays, possibly related to one or more taught masters courses, before a

final dissertation project.

Inspiration and support

The academic staff you’ll be working with are all active researchers or

authors, many of them prize-winners and leading scholars in their fields.

As well as benefiting from their expert supervision, you will undertake

training in research methods and have the opportunity to develop

other transferable skills through the university’s Institute for Academic

Development (see page 5).

We encourage you to share your research and learn from the work of

others through a vibrant programme of work-in-progress seminars,

reading groups, visiting speakers and conferences. Our postgraduate

journal, Forum, is a valuable conduit for research findings, and provides

an opportunity for editing experience. You can also apply your

analytical and critical skills to the UK’s oldest and most distinguished

literary awards: PhD students form part of the judging panel for the

prestigious James Tait Black Memorial Prizes.


PhD and MPhil



MSc by Research






Comparative Literature – see page 22

Medieval Studies – see page 28

Canadian Studies – see the School of Social & Political Science

Prospectus.


24

EUroPEAn ThEATrE

www.ed.ac.uk/pg/632





Thanks to its rich artistic heritage – which includes the world-famous

Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe –

Edinburgh is one of the most inspiring places in the world to study

theatre. This vibrant theatrical culture has attracted researchers and

practitioners from all over the world, many of whom you will find on the

academic staff here at the School of Literature, Languages & Culture.

Our breadth of expertise means you’ll have access to supervisors who

are active researchers in British, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian

and Scandinavian theatre studies, as well as drama and performance

theory. Many are theatre practitioners, as well as experts in the culture

and language of their respective areas of interest.

Diverse interests

Due to the far-reaching interests of our academic staff, your scope for

research is extremely broad, and includes: contemporary French cinema;

film aesthetics and film philosophy; 20th-century German theatre and

cultural politics, particularly in the Weimar Republic and the GDR;

17th-century French theatre; word and image; contemporary French

fiction; Scandinavian literature; Medieval literature; Greek and Persian

political and sociocultural history; gender history; reception studies and

popular culture; English Renaissance Theatre and theories of

performance and performativity; digital philology; electronic publishing;

19th and 20th century Italian literature; early modern Spanish culture;

Russian modernist and postmodernist film, theatre and literature;

Modernism and performance; gender and performance; Greek poetry;

and literary theory.

Practical opportunities

As well as the seasonal offerings of its festivals, Edinburgh boasts the

UK’s only student-run theatre, the Bedlam Theatre. Here you can

complement your research with practical experience in any aspect of

the theatre, from acting to directing or producing. For playwrights, the

city’s new-writing theatre, the Traverse Theatre, runs courses for young

writers, and presents opportunities for having your work performed.


PhD and MPhil



MSc by Research





FiLm STUdiES

www.ed.ac.uk/pg/255





As well as being a highly respected qualification from a top-ranking

university, a postgraduate research degree in film studies from the

School of Literatures, Languages and Culture places you at the heart of a

vibrant, artistic city with a flourishing film culture. Our associations with

the renowned Edinburgh International Film Festival, along with other

festivals, cinemas and film organisations, will support and inspire you in

your research: so too will our extensive library of texts and DVDs, editing

facilities, in-house cinema and access to the impressive collections of the

National Library of Scotland and local cultural centres.

Panoramic vision

We can provide supervised research on a wide range of topics, such as

film aesthetics and film philosophy, film exhibition, ‘other cinemas’, and

art and experimental cinema. We will consider thematic projects and

research on genres, movements and theories. For practice-based,

multidisciplinary and transnational topics, expertise is on hand from

within the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, and elsewhere,

such as staff researching anthropology, digital media and music.

Students can follow two routes to the MSc by Research degree: two

substantial essays followed by a 15,000-word dissertation, or a single

piece of research leading to 30,000-word dissertation.

Student community

As a postgraduate research student, you’ll join a vibrant, multinational

community, and take part in our programme of workshops, lectures and

PhD work-in-progress seminars. The Cinema Interdisciplinary Network

(CiNet) gives you access to presentations, informal discussions and

lecturers by those from other institutions who are working with film, and

in the field. You’ll also be involved in the activities of the Centre for Film,

Performance and Media Art (CFPMA), including conferences,

performances and study days. Student-led screenings, discussion groups,

work-in-progress seminars and cine-clubs are all ways in which we’ll

encourage you to widen your experience and develop networks that will

help carry you into an academic or practitional career related to film and

the moving image. You will also have the chance to contribute to our

academic journal Forum, which is edited by postgraduate students.


PhD and MPhil



MSc by Research




see www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding. You may also be interested in:

Film Studies – see right

History of Art – see the Edinburgh College of Art Prospectus. You may also be interested in:

European Theatre – see left


Art, History of Art, Design – see the Edinburgh College of Art Prospectus.

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Our research into French language and culture has received consistently

high rankings in past Research Assessment Exercises (RAE) – 55 per cent

was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent in the 2008 RAE.

This reflects our dynamic and enterprising postgraduate research

community, which thrives on the stimulating and supportive

environment we offer. As one of their growing number, you’ll have

access to a comprehensive range of French language resources,

including well-stocked libraries (the National Library of Scotland holds

one of the best French collections in the UK), membership of the

Institut Français d’Ecosse, and access to a number of specialised

facilities, such as the Christine De Pizan Database, the Centre de

Recherches Francophones Belges (the only centre of its kind in the UK),

and the Société Internationale Rencesvals.

Walking the talk

Language, to us, is inseparable from culture. As such, we encourage you

to think broadly and explore the implications of language in a wider

perspective. Our research areas cover a wide array of linguistic and

cultural themes, including: literary and linguistic studies from the

Middle Ages to the present day; Francophone and post-colonial studies;

self-writing; word and image; word and music; adaptation studies; film

studies; French thought; translation studies; and contemporary politics

and institutions. All research students follow a core course in Theory

and Methods of Literary Study plus a course of research training, which

includes bibliographic skills, project development and dissertation and

thesis writing. You will participate in regular research seminars run by

French, Film Studies, European Theatre and Translation Studies.

Exchange programmes

Total immersion is a highly effective way to enhance and accelerate

your research. As a postgraduate research student in French, you will be

eligible to apply to our two exchange schemes, the Ecole Normale

Supérieure and Erasmus Mundus exchange programmes. Both give

researchers the opportunity to study in Paris and create vital networks

that will enhance their careers.


PhD and MPhil



MSc by Research

FT UK/EU £5,750; international £13,050




gErmAnwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/257





One of the University’s larger modern language subject areas, German

has earned its place as a significant centre for research, with half of our

research ranked as ‘internationally excellent’ or better in the latest

Research Assessment Exercise. Testament to our breadth of research

expertise and lively graduate school community, the ranking also

reflects world-class resources (such as our well-stocked libraries and the

expansive Karin McPherson collection of GDR writing) and commitment

to publishing, most notably through our production of the esteemed

Edinburgh German Yearbook.

Broad cultural breadth

The size of our graduate school means we are able to support a broad

range of German and Austrian cultural and literary research themes,

from the Medieval period to the present. Current interests include:

cultural and political studies and literary theory; identity studies; gender

studies; theatre and performance studies; German and Austrian Jewish

literature; post-Holocaust literature; censorship studies; Turkish-German

literature; migrant literature in German; travel writing; palaeography

and medieval textual studies; the Medieval German epic; 18th century

and Romanticism studies; literature and culture of the German/Austrian

fin-de-siècle; literature and culture of the Weimar Republic and the

National Socialist era; post-war West and East German literary and

cultural studies; and contemporary German literature.

Beyond the curriculum

We promote the connection between language and culture through a

number of extracurricular programmes, both formal and informal. You’ll

have the opportunity to take part in our annual play, which is commonly

a collaborative effort with a noted German author or playwright. Our

Lektorin organises regular film nights, followed by Stammtisch, and

gallery visits are also offered. We maintain close links with the Scottish

arm of the Goethe Institut and the Edinburgh German Circle, which

both provide opportunities to make contacts and socialise with the

city’s sizeable German community.


PhD and MPhil



MSc by Research






European Theatre, Comparative Literature, Film Studies, Translation

Studies – see entries within this Prospectus.


Politics & International Relations – see the School of Social & Political

Science Prospectus.






Science Prospectus.


26

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We offer supervision in the major areas of Spanish, Spanish-American

and Portuguese literary and cultural studies, with particular research

strengths in the 19th century, theatre of all periods, and the visual arts.

All of our research staff are internationally recognised experts in their

fields, with three quarters of their research rated world-leading,

internationally excellent or internationally recognised in the latest

Research Assessment Exercise. Thanks to the breadth of language

research undertaken within the graduate school here at Edinburgh,

we can also accommodate an interest in cross-cultural research with

a programme of joint supervision.

Broad scope

Our staff pursue a diversity of research interests, and can offer you a

wide choice of areas for study. Research staff have interests in the

following fields: Medieval (modern literary theory as applied to Medieval

texts); mythology and fantasy; oral literature; questions of transmission

and textual criticism; Golden Age; Cervantes and the development of

fiction; political and social thought; theatre; European Baroque culture;

Modern Peninsular: Generation of ’98; modern and contemporary

fiction; narrative forms; the essay and newspaper columns; Spanish

American and Brazilian; Argentinian culture; women writers; gender,

sexuality and representation.

Rich resources

As well as undertaking independent research, guided by your supervisor,

you will also participate in our fortnightly research seminars, along with

regular symposia and conferences, such as our annual Cunninghame-

Graham Lecture (past speakers include Sir John Elliott, Carlos Fuentes,

Mario Vargas Llosa and Eduardo Mendoza). You’ll have access to the

impressive collections of the University’s Main Library, in addition to the

nearby National Library of Scotland and its outstanding collection of

early modern Spanish material.


PhD and MPhil



MSc by Research





iSLAmiC & middLE EASTErn STUdiESwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/259





We are a world-leading institution for research. Our graduate school

achieved the second highest result in the most recent Research

Assessment Exercise, and we are able to offer you expert supervision for

postgraduate studies in Islam, the Middle East and related subjects.

You’ll be studying in an environment that produces world-leading work,

with staff who are conducting research of international significance. Our

standing as a major centre of study has been affirmed by our hosting of

the UK’s Centre for the Advanced Study of the Arab World, and the

establishment of the Alwaleed Bin Talal Centre of the Study of Islam in

the Contemporary World.

A world of choice

A broad spectrum of research areas are available to you as a

postgraduate student. These include: Islamic history; comparative

historical studies of Islam and Europe; Islamic philosophy; modern Middle

Eastern history; politics of the modern Middle East; Shi’ism; Sufism;

cultural studies of the modern Middle East; Persian, Arabic and Turkish

languages; translation studies; diaspora studies; modern and classical

Arabic literature; modern and classical Persian literature; cinema and

media studies of the Middle East. We also offer opportunities for

interdisciplinary study across the University.

Valuable resources and activities

You’ll have the opportunity to broaden your research perspectives

through our workshops and lectures, plus regular conferences and

seminars. Inter-School collaborations are also possible, and we’ll

encourage you to create global networks that will aid both your research

and employment opportunities. The activities of the Centre for the

Advanced Study of the Arab World, and the Alwaleed Bin Talal Centre

(one of a global network of six centres) will add to your graduate school

experience, and bring you into contact with both the local Islamic and

Middle Eastern community and a broad gathering of researchers.


PhD and MPhil



MSc by Research










Science Prospectus.


Comparative Literature, Film Studies, Translation Studies, Medieval



Science Prospectus.

History; Economic & Social History – see the School of History,

Classics & Archaeology Prospectus.

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As a postgraduate research student of Italian studies, you’ll be exposed

to an environment that celebrates both the language and culture,

through rigorous research and vibrant social events. Studied informally

here at Edinburgh since the late 16th century, the language was

formally added to the curriculum in 1919. Since then it has developed

into a broad area of study that engages with both contemporary

culture and historical times, when Italy shaped our civilisation. Your

place in our graduate school will see you taking part in a thriving

research community, attending regular seminars, publishing papers,

presenting your research at national and international conferences, and

participating in interdisciplinary research clusters across the School of

Literatures, Languages and Cultures.

Array of choices

Postgraduates are an integral part of our research community. We

can offer you supervision in comparative literature, literary theory,

translation studies, film studies, digital philology and second language

acquisition, as well as in most areas of Italian cultural studies, including

literary studies from the Middle Ages to the present.

Additional opportunities

Just a few minutes away from our base in George Square is the Italian

Cultural Institute, where you’ll receive a warm welcome and the

opportunity to mix with Scotland’s wider Italian academic community.

You’ll also have access to its extensive library and programme of events.

Also extending cultural and academic networks is the Edinburgh Journal

of Gadda Studies, which is produced here at the School and offers

opportunities for you to contribute to the editorial team as a research

or editorial assistant. Through our membership of this network we also

host the Edinburgh Gadda Prize, presented biennially.


PhD and MPhil



MSc by Research





JAPAnESEwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/261





First taught at Edinburgh in 1976, Japanese has developed to

encompass a thriving postgraduate research programme. Covering a

wide spectrum of interests, it also allows for joint supervision, should

your research goals be interdisciplinary. Throughout your studies, you’ll

have the opportunity to liaise closely with the Consulate General of

Japan in Edinburgh, the Japan Society and the Japan Foundation, each

of which can offer a variety of events and resources.

Array of choices

On offer to postgraduate researchers is an array of topics covering

Japanese history and the performing and literary arts. These include:

the history of Japanese religion (especially Zhenyan or Shingon

Buddhism); Japanese performing arts, both traditional (especially

Japanese drama of the Tokugawa period) and contemporary; traditional

and modern Japanese literature; media and politics; the Meiji period;

and Japanese/Chinese relations.

Wealth of resources

As well as the comprehensive collections of the University, we can offer

a specialised collection of journals and reference works. Additional

research resources are available at the nearby Edinburgh Central Library

and National Library of Scotland. You will also be involved in a

programme of regular seminars and workshops, as well as tuition in

subject-appropriate skills where necessary.


PhD and MPhil

FT UK/EU £3,828; international £11,450 per year


MSc by Research






European Theatre, Comparative Literature, Film Studies, Medieval

Studies, Translation Studies – see entries within this Prospectus.


Science Prospectus.



Comparative Literature, Film Studies, Translation Studies – see

entries within this Prospectus.

Art, History of Art, Music – see the Edinburgh College of Art

Prospectus.

Religious Studies – see the School of Divinity Prospectus.


28

mEdiEvAL STUdiESwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/633




Edinburgh is home to one of the largest communities of Medieval and

Renaissance specialists in the world. With more than 70 staff actively

pursuing research in this field, we can offer you outstanding

opportunities for postgraduate study. Several of our subject areas were

rated among the best in the UK for world-leading research in the 2008

Research Assessment Exercise. Thanks to our close connections with

many Schools within the College of Humanities and Social Science,

through the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, we are able to

provide a cross-disciplinary approach that will add depth to your

research and open the door to a broader range of potential project

research areas.

Global interests

Our research interests are wide-ranging, and include history, history of

art and architecture, languages and literatures, music, divinity,

archaeology, law, Celtic and Scottish studies and Islamic studies. Our

interests are global, including European, Islamic, American and Asian

studies. You will also have access to training in palaeography and

codicology, in theoretical approaches to Medieval society and culture,

and sources of Medieval history.

Outstanding events and resources

Throughout your research, you can call upon the outstanding collections

of the University, the National Library of Scotland, the Scottish National

Archives and the National Museums and Galleries of Scotland, all of

which are within an easy walk of the George Square campus. You will

benefit from regular seminars and discussions, including the Centre for

Medieval and Renaissance Studies research seminar, and the Late

Antiquity and Medieval seminar which is organised by postgraduates

themselves.


PhD



MSc by Research






History, Classics, Archaeology – see the School of History, Classics &

Archaeology Prospectus.


Divinity – see the School of Divinity Prospectus.

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As one of the most vibrant postgraduate centres in the UK, and

Scotland’s oldest, we can offer you an environment that is, in the words

of the most recent Research Assessment Exercise, “consistent with

research activity of internationally excellent and internationally

recognised quality”. We host a unique research unit, ‘Russian in

Context’, an internationally recognised hub of research activity in the

field of Russian language in society, and we are actively involved in

various international research projects, including the ARHC-sponsored

project on the Russian 20th-century poetry canon in the post-Soviet

period.

Wide range of options

Postgraduate supervision is offered in the research areas related to the

study of social, political and cultural aspects of Russian language;

Russian literature; Russian media; cultural studies; film studies; theatre

studies and comparative literature. Your research can be interlinked

with various taught MSc programmes (Translation Studies, Comparative

Literature, European Theatre Studies and Film Studies), allowing you to

extend your research range.

Facilities

The University has an excellent library and computing facilities with

access to Cyrillic, which facilitates the use of Russian language resources

on the internet. You will have access to Russian TV channels, and the

rich collection of Russian books and journals in the National Library of

Scotland and various resources offered by our recently established

Princess Dashkova Russian Centre, a hub of research and cultural

exchange. Through our own Russian Society and Scotland-Russia Forum,

you’ll be exposed to a range of perspectives on your research, and be

able to celebrate Russian culture with like-minded peers.


PhD and MPhil



MSc by Research





SAnSkriTwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/263





With interest growing in India’s creative literature and Indian philosophy,

linguistics and literary criticism, the study of Sanskrit is becoming vitally

important. We are the only research department of its kind in Scotland,

and one of only four in the UK. As a postgraduate student here at

Edinburgh, you’ll be part of a community committed to exploring the

linguistic and cultural aspects of this fascinating language. The latest

Research Assessment Exercise confirmed the international significance

of the work being undertaken by our staff and postgraduate students.

Languages and links

We can offer you supervision in Sanskrit, Prakrit and Pali language and

literature, as well as links with the School of Divinity, if your area of

interest includes religious studies, such as classical Hinduism, Buddhism

or Jainism. Purely linguistic research can also benefit from links with the

Translation Studies area. Our current areas of interest include: Sanskrit

literature and literary theory; Theravada Buddhism; Jainism; Prakrit

language and literature.

Additional resources

We also serve as the base for the Centre for South Asian Studies,

through which various aspects of modern South Asia can be studied

under the supervision of staff in several arts and social sciences

departments. In addition, you will be encouraged to attend any

undergraduate or masters courses you see as being appropriate to your

research.


PhD and MPhil



MSc by Research






Translation Studies, Film Studies – see entries within this Prospectus.


Science Prospectus.




South Asian Studies – see the School of Social & Political Science

Prospectus.

Religious Studies – see the School of Divinity Prospectus.


30

SCAndinAviAn STUdiESwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/264





As one of the few centres for the study of modern Scandinavian

languages in the UK, we offer a programme that can cater to a wide

range of research interests, covering all Scandinavian countries. Thanks

to our place in the diverse School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures,

we are also able to cater for interdisciplinary research programmes. In

order to encourage immersion in your research, we celebrate the major

Scandinavian festivals, screen regular films and generally make the

atmosphere as Scandinavian as possible. We are fortunate in being able

to attract many Scandinavian visitors and speakers, including prominent

authors and academics.

Wide study choices

Our academic staff are able to offer supervision on a broad variety of

subjects, including: 19th and 20th century literature; literary translation;

cultural relations and transfer; place and identity; onomastics; language

history and dialectology; and Scottish-Scandinavian historical relations. In

addition, you have the opportunity to undertake interdisciplinary

research in areas such as comparative literature, film studies, translation

studies, cultural studies and Scottish studies.

International collaboration

We encourage you to participate in our very active social and cultural

life. We collaborate closely with the many Scandinavian bodies active in

Edinburgh, such as the Danish Cultural Institute, the Norwegian

Consulate General, the Scottish-Swedish Society and the Scottish-Finnish

Society. In addition, we are a member of the Georg Brandes

International PhD School for Scandinavian Literature, Art and Linguistics,

which is affiliated to the Department of Scandinavian Studies and

Linguistics at the University of Copenhagen. This collaboration provides

funding for our staff and students to attend and contribute to

international workshops and seminars at the University of Copenhagen

and benefit from the wide range of expertise that the School can offer.


PhD and MPhil



MSc by Research





SCoTTiSh EThnoLogywww.ed.ac.uk/pg/265



Part of the Celtic and Scottish Studies area, Scottish Ethnology boasts

the same resources and facilities, and offers you the same excellence in

academic expertise. For more information, please refer to the entry on

Celtic and Scottish Studies (page 21).

As a researcher in Scottish ethnology, you will have the opportunity to

collect and examine information from a number of sources: oral

narrative, song and instrumental music, material culture, social

organisation, custom and belief, and place names. Both oral and written

sources are at the heart of this research area – and Scotland offers

excellent opportunities for fieldwork in Scots and Gaelic.


MSc by Research


PT: UK/EU £2,875




Celtic & Scottish Studies – see page 21

Scottish History – see the School of History, Classics & Archaeology

Prospectus.

Music, Cultural Studies – see the Edinburgh College of Art Prospectus.


Cultural Studies, Film Studies – see entries within this Prospectus.

History, Sociology, Social Anthropology – see the School of Social &

Political Sciences Prospectus.

XXX

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TrAnSdiSCiPLinAry doCUmEnTAry FiLm www.ed.ac.uk/pg/663

PhD 3 yrs FT

MSc by Research 1 yr FT

Pioneering programme

The first research programme of its kind, a postgraduate degree in

transdisciplinary documentary film at Edinburgh will allow you to apply

your passion for the creative medium of documentary filmmaking to

any intellectual question, across any discipline. Our breadth of staff

expertise, excellent facilities and lively cinema culture, combined with

this cross-disciplinary approach, create a unique research environment.

Research possibilities

The potential scope of this degree is so broad that there can be no

definitive list of possible research interests. You will draw on the

documentary film expertise of our academic staff, and add to it with

input from a supervisor related to your selected focus – from any School

across the University. You will have access to excellent resources and

facilities, including digital video equipment, editing and sound studios

(at production stage, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with

fellow students in music and digital design) and in-house screening

facilities. In addition, we offer specialised library sections on cinema,

ethnographic film and an excellent VHS and DVD collection.

Opportunities to present your work and learn from local and visiting

speakers will be offered regularly through our CiNet programme and

work-in-progress seminars.

Vital links

You’ll be encouraged to establish your place in the wider film

community through links and associations we have established. The

Scottish Documentary Institute, based at Edinburgh College of Art,

hosts documentary masterclasses and screenings throughout the year,

as does the University’s own Centre for Film, Performance and Media

Arts. We are also a participant in the One World Student Media

Programme (a national project nurturing tomorrow’s journalists and

documentary filmmakers), and we are a founding member of the

Human Rights Student Forum hosted annually at the Document Film

Festival.


PhD


MSc by Research




TrAnSLATion STUdiESwww.ed.ac.uk/pg/266



One of the most flexible translation studies programmes in the UK, our

degree brings together the expertise of research-active staff from the

various language units within the School of Literatures, Languages and

Cultures. You’ll join what is arguably the most international research

community within the School, using your research skills both to

enhance your translation practice, and to provide you with an

intellectual and philosophical perspective on the activity of translation.

This diversity of research aims to produce more self-reflective and

theoretically minded translators, and puts you more in touch with the

requirements of the marketplace.

A world of choice

Our current research is wide-ranging, covering the following areas:

audiovisual translation; translation and the internet; literary translation;

and translation and music. You may choose to work with two

languages, depending on those that are supported in the research area

of the School. Currently, these include Arabic, Catalan, Chinese, Danish,

French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Persian, Polish,

Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish. You may also wish to

increase your research skills through attending the Translation Research

Summer School (TRSS), which we run in conjunction with University

College London, the University of Manchester and the Hong Kong

Baptist University.

Excellent links

In addition to our association with the TRSS, we are also a partner in the

International Postgraduate Conference in Translation and Interpreting

(IPCITI). Held each year in either Edinburgh, Manchester or Dublin, the

conference gives you the opportunity to present your work and learn

from other researchers in the field. We offer excellent opportunities in

research networking that will benefit a future academic career.

Alternatively, if your interest is in in-house or freelance translation, we

can offer growing links with the translation market.


PhD and MPhil






Film Studies – see page 24

Cultural Studies, Art, Design – see the Edinburgh College of Art

Prospectus.


French; German, Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies, Italian, Hispanic

Studies, Japanese; Russian; or Scandinavian Studies. See entries

within this Prospectus.


32

Funding

University of Edinburgh scholarships

China Scholarships Council/University of Edinburgh Scholarships A number of scholarships for PhD study to candidates who are citizens and

residents of China.

www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/china-council

College of Humanities & Social Sciences Studentships Studentships (fees plus stipend) and scholarships (fees only) are open to those

admitted to the first year of PhD research.

www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/research-hss

Edinburgh Global Masters Scholarships A number of scholarships available to international students for masters study.

www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/masters

Edinburgh Global Research Scholarships These scholarships are designed to attract high-quality international research

students to the University.

www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/global-research

Edinburgh Santander Masters Scholarships Several scholarships are available to students from a number of countries for

masters study.

www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/santander

Edinburgh UK/EU Masters Scholarships Scholarships for UK and EU students who have been accepted on a full-time

masters degree programme.

www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/uk-masters

PhD Scholarship Scottish Gaelic Language, Literature or Culture The University has one PhD Scholarship available for a research project relating to

Scottish Gaelic language, literature or culture.

www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/literatures-languages-cultures

Principal’s Career Development PhD Scholarships A number of awards, open to UK, EU and international PhD students.

www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/development

Principal’s Indian Masters Scholarships 15 scholarships are available to students from India for masters study.

www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/masters-india

William Hunter Sharpe Memorial Scholarships One or more scholarships are available to students accepted onto the full-time

MSc Creative Writing programme.

www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/sharpe

Wolfson Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship in the Humanities Three research scholarships in the following disciplines: history, literature and

languages. Applicants should have an outstanding academic record.

www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/wolfson-foundation

Other sources of funding

Commonwealth Scholarships For students who are resident in any Commonwealth country, other than the UK.

www.dfid.gov.uk/cscuk

Fulbright Scholarships Scholarships open to US graduate students in any subject wishing to study in the

UK. www.iie.org/fulbright

Marshall Scholarships Open to outstanding US students wishing to study at any UK university for at least

two years. www.marshallscholarship.org

Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships A number of scholarships open to citizens of Canada, China, India and the US,

undertaking masters-level study in Scotland.

www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/saltire

A large number of scholarships, loans and other funding schemes are available for your postgraduate studies. You can find the full range at www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding.

Awards are offered by the School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures, the College of Humanities & Social Science, the University of Edinburgh, the

Scottish, British and international governments and funding bodies. Below we list a selection of potential sources of financial support for

postgraduate students applying to the School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures.

The University of Edinburgh Graduate Discount SchemeWe offer a 10 per cent discount on postgraduate fees for all alumni who have graduated with an undergraduate degree from the University. www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/discounts

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Research council awards

Research councils offer awards to masters, MPhil and PhD students in most of the Schools within the University of Edinburgh. All studentship applications from the research councils must be made through the University, through your School or College office. Awards can be made for both taught and research programmes.

Normally only those UK/EU students who have been resident in the UK for the preceding three years are eligible for a full award. For some awards, candidates who are EU nationals and are resident in the UK may be eligible for a fees-only award. www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/research-councils.

Financial aid

The Canada Student Loans ProgramThe University is eligible to certify Canadian student loan applications. Full details

on eligibility and how to apply can be found online.

www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/canadian-loans

The Student Awards Agency for ScotlandThis department of the Scottish Government has offered loans to postgraduate

students in the past. At time of going to press arrangements for study in

2013/14 were under review.

www.saas.gov.uk

US Student LoansThe University is eligible to certify loan applications for US loan students.

Full details on eligibility and how to apply can be found online.

www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/us-loans

Shruti Chaudhry

PhD Sociology

Edinburgh Global Research Scholarship and College of

Humanities and Social Science Research Studentship

“I learnt about the scholarships through the scholarships and student funding section of the University’s website. The scholarships

have provided me with a wonderful opportunity to study at a premier institution. I wish to work in academia in the future and so

my PhD will provide me with the necessary training and qualification to allow me to meet my goals.”


34

How to applyGeneral requirementsTypical entry requirements for postgraduate

study is a minimum UK 2:1 degree, or its

international equivalent, in a subject related to

your chosen programme. For a PhD, the usual

entrance requirement is a masters degree

related to your proposed area of research.

However, you may be admitted if you have

other qualifications or work experience that are

deemed comparable. You can discuss this with

your potential supervisor.

Entry requirements for some programmes may

vary, so check the details for the specific

programme you wish to apply for.

ProcedureBefore you apply, we strongly recommend that

you contact the School to discuss your

proposed programme of study. This is

particularly important if you are interested in

research, as the School must ensure the

availability of a supervisor in your chosen field.

You should check the key dates for

applications, and check whether a separate

application is needed for funding, then

apply online.

Apply onlineUse the degree finder at www.ed.ac.uk/pg/

degrees to navigate to your chosen

programme, and click on Apply. It’s a

straightforward process, and you’ll be able to

set up an online account, which lets you save

your application and continue at another time.

The system will ask you to upload a degree

transcript, two academic references and a

statement of purpose.

Students applying for any degree in English

Literature, Comparative and General Literature,

Film Studies, Literature and Transatlanticism,

European Theatre or Hispanic Studies should

send a sample of written work of about 3,000

words.

PhD applicants should send their full research

proposal.

MSc by Research students should send an

outline of their proposed study.

Students applying for Creative Writing should

send a portfolio of their writing of about 5,000

words.

Joining us from overseasInternational applicants are advised to check

the University’s website to find out more about

their visa options and our Integrated English for

Academic Purposes (IEAP) programme. Please

visit www.ed.ac.uk/international/ieap.

International agentsThe University has certified representative

agents in the following locations: Brunei,

Canada, China, Gulf Region, Hong Kong, India,

Japan, Jordan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria,

Norway, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South

Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey,

Zambia and Zimbabwe. International

applicants can use an agent to help guide

them through the application process if

necessary. Contact details for all our agents

can be found at www.ed.ac.uk/studying/

international/agents.

Please note:

• English language requirements can be affected by government policy so please ensure you visit our website for the latest details. www.ed.ac.uk/english-requirements/pg/chss

• Your English language certificate must be no more than two years old at the beginning of your degree programme.

• A degree from an English-speaking university may be accepted in some circumstances.

• Cambridge tests are accepted only for applicants who do not need Tier 4 visas to enter the UK.

English language requirementsStudents whose first language is not English must show evidence of one of the qualifications in the box below.

Abbreviations: IELTS − International English Language Testing System; TOEFL iBT − Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test; CPE − Certificate of Proficiency in English; CAE − Certificate in Advanced English

IELTS 7.0 (with no score lower than 6.5 in each section)

TOEFL iBT 100 (with at least 23 in all sections).

Pearson Test of English 67 (with no score lower than 61 in each of the ‘Communicative Skills’ sections - ‘Enabling Skills’ section scores are not considered)

CPE Grade B

CAE Grade A

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Get in touchContact usFor more information about all of our

postgraduate taught programmes, please

contact Linda Grieve, our Graduate School

Administrator.

T: +44 (0)131 650 4114

E: [email protected]

For more information about our doctorate and

other research programmes, and to contact

potential supervisors, visit www.ed.ac.uk/

schools-departments/literatures-

languages-cultures/about/staff-contacts.

The School of Literatures, Languages

& Cultures

Graduate School Office

Room 12.05

David Hume Tower

George Square

Edinburgh UK

EH8 9JX

T: +44 (0) 131 650 4114

E: [email protected]

Visit usOur postgraduate Open Day is your

opportunity to come and meet current staff

and students. Our next campus-based Open

Day takes place on Friday 23 November 2012.

For further details, please visit

www.ed.ac.uk/postgraduate-open-day.

We also run online information sessions for

prospective postgraduate students throughout

the year. To find out more, visit

www.ed.ac.uk/pg/open-day/online-events.


36

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This publication is available online at www.ed.ac.uk and can be made available in alternative formats on request. Please contact [email protected] or call +44 (0)131 650 2252.

FSC

© The University of Edinburgh 2012. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the University.The University is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336.

Semester 1:

16 September–20 December 2013

Semester 2:

13 January–23 May 2014

Postgraduate Open Day:

23 November 2012

Induction Week:

9–13 September 2013

Documents

PG Languages, Literature & Cultures