History of the Highlands and Islands MLitt

What is special about this course?

This online Masters in the History of the Highlands and Islands is the first ever taught postgraduate course to focus on the colourful and often conflict-driven history of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, from medieval times to the 20th century.

It is a truly interactive course that involves extensive use of primary source material including oral history testimony, material from physical and online archives and newspapers. Critical thinking is essential to the topics covered as is a sensitivity to the way history interacts with memory.

You will study a range of subjects that will not only spark your interest and emotions, but may also cause you to begin to question stereotypes and cherished myths.

Taught from the Centre for History in the Highlands, the MLitt History is available to study from anywhere in the world.

Special features

• This is the first ever postgraduate course focusing specifically on the history of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
• You can study from a distance online through the university’s virtual learning environment (VLE), which means you can fit your studies around your personal and professional commitments.
• You can study individual modules for personal or professional development, or work towards the PgCert, PgDip, or full masters degree.
• You will develop key skills in researching different types of primary sources as preparation for work in a related field or further study.

Entry requirements

• 2:1 Honours degree or above (or international equivalent) in history
• If you have an honours degree in a cognate, or strongly-related subject your application will be considered on an individual basis

*Funding support notice*

Postgraduate Loans (SAAS) (Scottish domiciled students)

Loans for tuition fees are available from SAAS for eligible Scotland domiciled students, and loans for living costs for eligible Scottish students.

Access routes

• You can progress from our undergraduate Humanities degrees

PgCert

The core modules are:

• Arguments and alternatives in history
• Primary sources in history

You must complete ONE of the above core modules to enable you to exit with the PgCert.  

You must also undertake at least one of the following options during your studies (which can be at this stage, or the next level):

• Introduction to palaeography and languages in North Atlantic history
• Voices from the past: understanding and using oral history

You can also choose further option modules (to make a total of three modules overall), which may include:  

• Contemplating the Clearances
• Lordship of the Isles
• Maritime lives: the Scottish Northern Isles during the Early Modern period
• Rivers, ports and coasts in history
• Any option module from the MLitt History 

PgDip

You will choose three further modules from those listed in the PgCert.

MLitt

To achieve the award of MLitt History of the Highlands and Islands you must complete a 60-credit research dissertation.

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

• EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
• EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
• EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland) or assessed as rest of the UK for fee status, the following fees apply:

EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes. These students will get an automatic fee scholarship.

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union, studying online from their home country, or assessed as international for fee status, the following fees apply:

This course is not available to international students requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU and international postgraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.

Funding

Eligible Scotland-domiciled students studying full-time can access loans up to £11,500 from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). This comprises a tuition fee loan up to £7,000 and a non-income assessed living cost loan of £4,500. 

Eligible Scotland-domiciled students studying part-time can apply for a tuition fee loan from SAAS.  You must be intending to complete the course in no longer than twice the length of time it would take for a full-time student. For example, if your course is available to full-time students as a one-year programme, you will be funded for a maximum of two years' part-time study. If your course does not have a full-time option, you must complete within three years. You can apply for a tuition fee loan up to £7,000, which will be paid pro-rata for each academic year of study. 

Full details can be found on the SAAS website. Applications for loans open in April.

Students from the rest of the UK who meet the eligibility requirements may be able to apply for a loan from the Student Loan Company.