History of Art and Scottish Literature

You will study history of art and Scottish literature in equal depth with this joint honours programme.

History of art

History of art will introduce you to art from different periods and world cultures.

You will:

• learn how, and for whom, works of art were made

• situate artworks within visual and material culture more broadly

• explore the meanings of works of art and visual culture and the ways they continue to be interpreted

In Years 3 and 4 you will have the opportunity to:

• specialise in particular aspects of the field

• develop independent research projects

• complete a dissertation

In Year 3 you will have the opportunity to study abroad.

Scottish literature

Studying Scottish literature will develop your:

• critical skills

• analytic skills

• linguistic skills

• creative skills

You will study a broad range of texts and different approaches to reading. Through poetry, drama and prose, you will gain an understanding of the cultural contexts of all major periods of Scottish literature, from the late Middle Ages to the present.

Studying literature prepares you to contribute to a society in which an understanding of texts of all kinds is crucially important. It shows an openness to ideas and perspectives other than your own, which is an essential attribute in many careers and the global marketplace.

Why Edinburgh?

We are the oldest department of literature in the UK and one of the longest-established in the world. We are proud to be based in the heart of the first UNESCO World City of Literature, a city that many of Scotland's greatest writers have called home. Our Writers-in-Residence have included:

• Jenni Fagan

• Liz Lochhead

• Sorley Maclean

• Norman MacCaig

• Michael Pedersen

• Alan Warner

From the University's special collections to the National Library and Galleries of Scotland, the city's resources for studying art and literature are exceptional.
The history of art and Scottish literature complement each other well. Both subjects benefit from shared methodologies and historical contexts, and many ideas and movements are shared across the visual arts and literature.

Our programme is extremely flexible. In Years 1 and 2, in addition to your core subjects, you will choose optional courses from a broad list of disciplines, then specialise as you progress through your honours years.