What is special about this course?

The joint honours degree in history and literature allows you to turn your passion for the past and for writing into an interesting career.

The BA (Hons) History and Literature covers a range of approaches, from thematic modules that cover a variety of places and historical periods, to concentrated and in-depth studies of a particular group of authors or periods of history.

Over two-thirds of the research conducted by the Centre for History was rated at 4* and 3*, indicating ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’, in the latest assessment of UK university research quality.

The impact of our research on the broader economy and society was ranked joint 8th, higher than Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh. We are also the highest ranked new History department in the UK.

Special features

• You will explore literature and history in a global context
• The degree can be studied full time or part time to suit your personal circumstances
• You can study individual modules for personal or professional development

Accommodation

We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.

Entry requirements

Entry to year one:

• 3 Scottish Highers at grade BBC or above, or
• 2 A levels at grade BC or above
• At least two should be from the list of relevant subjects
• Applicants with other relevant qualifications or experience will be considered on an individual basis

Advanced entry to year two:

• HNC Social  Science (12 SCQF credits) with 3 additional SCQF credits at level 7 which is equivalent to 120 degree credit points, and at least grade C in the Graded Unit will be considered for direct entry to year two.

Access routes

Students eligible to undertake Scottish Wider Access Programmes (SWAP) will be able to apply for entry to BA (Hons) History and Literature with a grade profile of BBC in one of the below courses and 8 units passed at SCQF level 6:

• Access to: Arts and Humanities (Newbattle Abbey College)
• Access to: Arts, Social Sciences and Primary Teaching (Edinburgh College)
• Access to: Arts, Social Sciences and Primary Teaching (North East Scotland College)
• Access to: Celtic Studies incorporating Primary Education with Gaelic (Newbattle Abbey College)
• Access to: Community, Education and Humanities (Dundee & Angus College)
• Access to: Degree Studies (Forth Valley College)
• Access to: Humanities (Arts, Social Sciences and Primary Education) (Fife College)
• Access to: Humanities (Fife College)
• Access to: Humanities (Perth College UHI)
• Access to: Languages with Business (Edinburgh College)
• Access to: Languages, Arts and Social Sciences (Edinburgh College)
• Access to: University Study (Dundee & Angus College)
• NQ Access to: Social Sciences (West Lothian College)
• NQ Access to: Teaching (West Lothian College)

Access to Christian Theology at our university and other relevant humanities access courses will also be considered on an individual basis.

Year 1 - CertHE

You will study the following history modules:

• What is history? Plus
• A middle age: Europe 1000-1500 Or
• People, power and protest: themes in modern British history

You will also study the following two literature modules:

• Theories of literature: an introduction
• Travellers in the wilderness: literature and the theme of exile

You will study two further option modules from a range of history, literature and other humanities subjects.

Year 2 - DipHE

You will study the following history modules:

• Historians and history Plus
• Themes in American history Or
• A curious age: European society and culture, c1500-1750

You will also study two literature modules which may include:

• Male ideals and female desires in medieval poetry
• An introduction to Gaelic poetry
• Theatrical powerplay: classical and modern tragedy
• Heroic literature: epic from classical to contemporary

You will study two further option modules from a range of history, literature and other humanities subjects.

Year 3 - BA

If you want to complete a history dissertation in the honours year, you would must study the core module Public History, otherwise, you can choose up to three modules in history and three in literature. 

History modules may include:

• Queer Britannia: gender, sexuality and performative identities in Britain, 1800-1950
• A study of things: material culture of medieval and early modern Europe
• War and chivalry in medieval Britain and France
• Cultural centres and economic powerhouses: London, Hamburg and Amsterdam during the early modern period
• Alps, Hills and Plain? Central Europe to 1918
• Crime, custom and conflict, 1700-1850
• You can choose to take one module from the Scottish history options

Literature modules may include:

• Gaoir nam ban: Gaelic women's poetry 1644-1746
• Imagining new worlds: renaissance literature and thought
• Romantic genius: Scottish and European literature, 1750-1830
• Psychogeography and the city
• Modern times: popular culture and moderism
• Children's literature

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

You will complete a dissertation in history or literature. You will also study one option module from your chosen dissertation subject plus three option modules from the other subject. You may take one Scottish history module in place of one history module.

History modules may include:

• War cruel and sharp: a military history of the Hundred Years' War
• Gender in American Culture and Society, 1776-1917
• Death and destruction: the social impact of the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648)
• Lordship, colony, kingdom: the making of Ireland
• Through a glass darkly: the medieval in film

Literature subjects may include:

• Pushing bourndaries
• Postmoderism
• Avant-garde literature
• Past and present: historiography

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland or the European Union/EEA (outside of the UK) and with a term time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland studying this course full time, the following fees apply:

4th year free only for students studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Part-time (per 20 credit module) - £1,500.

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

There are a number of funding options available to UK and EU students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union and with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Part-time study is not open to international student requiring a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK.

Further information on international course fees.

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time RUK and International undergraduate students for continuous and contiguous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.

Funding

External scholarships and financial support may be available. Contact the relevant university partner college for more information.