The MA (Hons) in Scottish History is a four-year course run by the School of History. During their studies, they will learn to approach Scottish history from a number of different angles, exploring issues such as invasions, rivalries, lordship, tyranny, Enlightenment, social problems and culture, past and present.
In the first two years, they will have the opportunity to study from a broad chronological span, from antiquity to the present day. They will study how economic, social and political issues and events have fundamentally shaped modern Scottish society, and gain valuable insight into ongoing tensions within the Union and the nature of modern Scottish identity.
Alongside Scottish history, in the first year of their studies, they will be required to study an additional two subjects. In the second year, they will usually carry on at least one of these subjects, sometimes two. Find out more about how academic years are organised.
The skills they gain in analysing original and secondary source materials will prepare them to dive deeper into specialist topics during the third and fourth years.
Breadth of knowledge and perspective are highly encouraged, and all students are expected to take some modules in other subject areas, for example English, art history or geography.
Graduates in Scottish history from St Andrews can expect to have developed an appreciation for this country’s history and to be able to make connections across different time periods and between different cultures.
The University of St Andrews operates on a flexible modular degree system by which degrees are obtained through the accumulation of credits.
