Scandinavian Studies and Social Policy MA (Hons)

The languages, history, politics and culture of the Scandinavian countries have long had a considerable impact beyond the Nordic region. This programme enables you to study one or more Scandinavian languages in the context of literature, culture and society, and alongside issues such as the distribution of welfare and wellbeing within societies and the policies which influence that distribution. Edinburgh is the only university in Scotland, and one of only two in the UK, to offer undergraduate honours programmes in Scandinavian Studies, enabling you to learn modern Danish, Swedish or Norwegian in its cultural context and alongside Social Policy. Home of the Northern Scholars programme, the University has an excellent reputation for research and teaching in this area. Over the course of your four-year programme, you’ll specialise in the modern language of either Denmark, Norway or Sweden but, whichever you choose, you’ll also gain an understanding of the other two, as well as of Scandinavian literature and culture, past and present. You will spend Year 3 studying, teaching or working in a Scandinavian country. In Social Policy, your focus will be on social and economic change, what causes it and its consequences for society. Reflecting how policies are developed, you will learn about both the policy-making process in the UK (including devolution in Scotland and elsewhere) along with the influence of international bodies such as the European Union and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).