English and Scottish History

English literature and Scottish history share a common territory: the close reading of texts produced within particular historical moments and social contexts. Literature asks how language, narrative, and form shape meaning and feeling. History asks how the past is reconstructed from evidence and how the choices made by historians determine what we know and believe about it.

Bringing the two disciplines together at the University of St Andrews means working within one of the richest scholarly environments for both fields.

You will develop the skills to read literary texts closely across a range of genres and periods, examining the ideas, values, and historical forces that have contributed to shaping them. At the same time you will engage with the distinctive history of Scotland, from the medieval period through the Reformation, the Union, industrialisation, and the modern era, learning to evaluate primary sources, construct historical arguments, and situate events within broader European and Atlantic contexts. St Andrews has particular strengths in Scottish literary and historical scholarship, and the programme allows you to explore the connections between the two traditions as well as their individual demands.

The four-year programme includes a year abroad, widening your comparative perspective on both literature and history.

A typical entry tariff of 200 points reflects the strong academic preparation expected of students joining a programme at one of Scotland's most prestigious universities. Graduates with this combination go on to careers in teaching, publishing, journalism, the civil service, heritage, archival work, and a wide range of roles in the cultural and public sectors. Postgraduate study in literature, history, Scottish studies, or related humanities disciplines is another well-established route for graduates who wish to pursue academic or professional specialisation.