Edinburgh is the first UNESCO World City of Literature, a fantastic literary city which many greats of Scottish, English and world literature have called home. On this programme, you will develop your critical, analytic, linguistic and creative skills by engaging with a broad range of texts and a variety of approaches to reading.After an introduction to the essential skills needed for critical close reading, you will specialise in Scottish Literature as you move through your studies.You will explore the cultural contexts of all major periods of Scottish literature from the late Middle Ages to the present, and select honours courses on the basis of your own interests in specific topics, periods or genres of literature from Scotland. 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, an essential attribute in many careers and a global marketplace.

Edinburgh is a remarkable place to study, write, publish, discuss and perform prose, poetry and drama. We are the oldest department of English and Scottish Literature in the UK, one of the longest-established in the world. 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 of Scotland, the city's resources for studying Scottish literature are exceptional. Our programme is very flexible. Over the course of your studies, you'll engage with works of literature written in English from around the world and have the option to learn an additional language to broaden your access to primary texts. You will also have the chance to choose from classes in a wide variety of other subjects and disciplines.