History and Scottish History

History as a discipline trains you to interrogate evidence, situate events in their context, understand change and continuity over time, and construct clear, evidence-based arguments about the past. Scottish History adds a distinct and rich particular focus, examining the history of a nation with a complex and often contested relationship with its southern neighbour and with the broader currents of European and world history. From medieval kingship and the Wars of Independence, through the Reformation and the Union, to the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution, and on to the political movements of the twentieth century and the contemporary debates about devolution and independence, Scottish history provides a uniquely compelling set of questions that illuminate the broader practice of historical scholarship.

At the University of Edinburgh, this four-year full-time programme is taught at the heart of Scotland's capital, a city that was itself at the centre of some of the most important events in Scottish and British history. Edinburgh is home to the Scottish Parliament, the National Archives of Scotland, the National Library, and a rich array of museums and heritage sites, all of which provide resources and contexts for historical study. You will engage with a wide range of historical periods and methods, combining the breadth of general history with the depth of Scottish specialisation.

The degree includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study history in a different national academic context and to examine how Scottish and British history looks from outside.

Graduates in History and Scottish History go on to careers in education, heritage and museums, archiving, journalism, the civil service, publishing, the law, politics, and many other fields where the skills of historical research and critical analysis are valued. Some pursue postgraduate study in Scottish history, British history, archival studies, or heritage management, while others move into professional roles that draw on the research, writing, and analytical capabilities the degree develops.