A Masters by Research (MScR) programme is ideal if you have a clear idea of the independent research you wish to undertake at masters level.

Join our community and undertake a 20,000-word dissertation under the guidance of an experienced and well-published supervisor.

Based in Scotland’s capital and festival city, at the heart of a lively contemporary cultural scene, we are the longest established Celtic department in Scotland.

Over the past 70 years, our School of Scottish Studies Archives has grown into an unrivalled collection of sound, video, film and photographic resources which continue to inspire new research and creative work.

We are the home of the European Ethnological Research Centre which promotes research into everyday life and society in Scotland through long-term projects such as the Regional Ethnology of Scotland and publications including Scottish Life and Society: a compendium of Scottish ethnology.

Scottish ethnology provides a fascinating insight into the traditional and popular culture of Scotland, while giving you a set of ethnographical skills that you can apply to any culture.

Programme structure

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, whether in reading medieval manuscripts or 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.