Religious Studies and Scottish Literature

Religious Studies and Scottish Literature is an unusual pairing that rewards close attention to what it brings together. Religious Studies approaches the great traditions of belief, practice, and thought that have shaped human civilisations, examining sacred texts, theological arguments, and the social and political roles that religion plays. Scottish Literature offers a rich and distinct body of writing in English, Scots, and Gaelic spanning centuries, from the medieval makars and the Reformation controversies through to the literary renaissance of the twentieth century and the vibrant contemporary scene.

Both fields ask fundamental questions about identity, community, and how people make sense of their lives.

At the University of Edinburgh, this four-year, full-time programme benefits from Edinburgh's exceptional intellectual resources in both areas. The city itself has deep connections to both Scottish literary culture and to the Reformed tradition that shaped it, and the university's collections and staff bring both subjects to life with genuine depth. You will study theology and religious thought across multiple traditions, developing skills in textual analysis and philosophical argument, while also reading widely in Scottish writing, learning to place texts in their historical, cultural, and linguistic contexts.

The programme includes a year abroad, giving you the chance to encounter both subjects from a different national vantage point. A typical entry tariff of 168 UCAS points reflects Edinburgh's academic standing.

Combined honours programmes of this kind develop an unusually flexible mind. You will learn to read carefully, argue rigorously, and bring multiple frameworks of interpretation to bear on a single question. These are capacities that transfer well to many professional contexts.

Graduates pursue careers in education, the arts, publishing, the church and interfaith organisations, the civil service, journalism, and heritage. Others go on to postgraduate research in theology, Scottish studies, literary criticism, or related fields. The degree provides a thoughtful, humanistic foundation for work that involves understanding people, communities, and culture.