Scottish Ethnology MScR

This programme includes 40 credits of training on research skills, methods and problems using a combination of traditional and innovative methods.

You will be encouraged and supported to make direct contact with original sources and to gain hands-on experience:

• in engaging with material from the School of Scottish Studies Archives
• in developing skills in fieldwork practice, collection and analysis
• in analysing song, music and oral history recordings
• in handling electronically stored data

Over the course of the year, you will complete a further 40 credits of research-related assignments up to 10,000 words, building the necessary skills to complete your 100-credit supervised dissertation of 20,000 words.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Between the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC), the Careers Service and the Institute for Academic Development (IAD), you will find a range of programmes and resources to help you develop your postgraduate skills.

You will also have access to the University’s fantastic libraries, collections and worldwide strategic partnerships.

Join in

As part of our research community, you will be immersed in a world of scholarship, with lots of opportunities to share ideas, learning and creative work. Activities include:

• a regular seminar series (with talks by staff, research students and visiting speakers)
• annual lecture series in Scottish Studies (Alan Bruford Lecture, John MacLeod Memorial Lecture, the ‘Rebellious Truth’ lecture in partnership with Edinburgh TradFest, and the Carrying Stream Festival)
• performances and traditional music sessions, co-ordinated by our In-Residence colleagues (Traditional Artist and Gaelic Writer)
• active student Celtic Society (Comann Ceilteach)

Our graduates tell us that they value LLC’s friendliness, the connections they make here and the in-depth guidance they receive from our staff, who are published experts in their field.

• Read or watch an interview with Fraser Fifield, our Traditional Artist in Residence

Our research resources and facilities are outstanding. We are particularly well placed to explore the theory and practice of working with archives.

In addition to our Scottish Studies Library, and the University’s Main Library and many collections, our School of Scottish Studies Archives include over 30,000 discrete recordings of sound recordings, an extensive photographic and video collection, manuscripts, Linguistic and Place-Name Surveys, and donated collections such as:

• the John Levy Archive of religious music
• the Burton-Manning Collection of Appalachian oral tradition
• the Will Forret and Gus MacDonald Collections of Scottish music
• the Edgar Ashton Folk Revival Collection

*Read our feature marking 70 years of the School of Scottish Studies Archives

Passionate about music, literature, song and storytelling, we have strong links with the National Library of Scotland, the Scottish Storytelling Centre, National Archives and National Museum of Scotland, all of which are located close to our buildings in Edinburgh’s historic city centre.

We also collaborate with research staff at St Cecilia’s Hall who manage the University's historical musical instrument collection and Scotland’s oldest purpose-built concert hall.

Dr Ella Leith first came to the University of Edinburgh in 2004 as a Scottish Ethnology undergraduate.

Almost 20 years on, she has completed both an MSc by Research and a PhD with us.

Ella has developed particular expertise in British Sign Language (BSL) storytelling in Scottish deaf communities.

She moved to Malta in 2019, where she continues to work as a freelance researcher for the European Ethnological Research Centre (EERC).

• Read our interview with Ella

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a related subject.

We may also consider your application if you have other qualifications or experience; please contact us to check before you apply.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 65 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 7 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

• borrowing money

  • taking out a loan

  • family support

• personal savings

• income from work

• employer sponsorship

• scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding