Culture and Heritage BA (Hons)

What is special about this course?

The BA (Hons) Culture and Heritage, and related joint honours degrees, will appeal to anybody who has an interest in how the identity of the Highlands and Islands was formed, how history and decisions taken outside the region have fashioned our character and landscapes, and how that translates to life today. 

You will study a wide range of subjects allowing you to explore the key cultural, historical, literary, language, musical and philosophical issues of the region, at both regional and national levels, as well as placing them within a global context. The programme covers everything from art, film, and literature, to museums, Vikings, and language.

The course is aimed at anyone who wishes to study in this growing interdisciplinary field. You can set your own research agenda, enabling you to choose your topics for study at all levels. Teaching is multi-disciplinary, and you will bring this all together in your learning throughout your studies.

Take this unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the wealth of culture and heritage within the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and gain an understanding of our place in the world today. 

Special features

• Gain a unique understanding of the communities of the Scottish Highlands and Islands – the customs, traditions and values
• Choose from a range of many interdisciplinary subjects to suit your own interests and career path
• Study to suit your personal circumstances, full-time or part-time 
• Study individual modules for personal or professional development
• Choose this single-honours programme or one of our joint-honours programmes, combining Culture and Heritage with nine other subjects

Accommodation

We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.

Entry requirements

Entry to year one:

• 3 Scottish Highers at grade BBC or above OR
• 2 A levels at grade BC or above
• At least two should be from the list of relevant academic subjects.
• Applicants with other relevant qualifications or experience will be considered on an individual basis

Advanced entry to year two:

• HNC Social Sciences (12 SQA credits) with 3 additional SQA credits at level 7, and at least grade C in the Graded Unit will be considered for direct entry to year two

Access routes

SWAP Access courses
If you are eligible to undertake Scottish Wider Access Programmes (SWAP), please visit our SWAP access list for further information on grade profiles and available subjects.

Year 1 - CertHE

Core modules are:

• Scotland: the brand
• Culture. Heritage. What?
• What is culture?
• Scotland's music

You will also choose two option modules from across the university's humanities portfolio

Year 2 - DipHE

Core modules are:

• Folklore
• Tradition, custom and belief

You will choose two of the following option modules:: 

• Languages on the edge
• Golden mead and burning hearts
• Displaying the past: museum studies 

You will also choose two option modules from across the university's humanities portfolio.

Year 3 - BA

Core modules are:

• Interdisciplinary project
• Perceptions of heritage
• Scotland in film
• Celtic and Celtic revival art in Scotland 600-2000
• The Scottish Enlightenment and Highland society

You will also choose one option module from across the university's humanities portfolio.

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

Core modules are:

• Scottish tradition in philosophy
• Faeries and fables: the story of Gaelic literature
• Highland journeys
• Vikings and Valkyries

You must also complete a 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, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland studying this course full time, the following fees apply:

4th year free only for students studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Part-time (per 20 credit module) - £1,542.

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.

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.  Students will get an automatic scholarship of £3,000 per annum and the 4^th year of study will be free for those studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

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

Students will need Student Route visa sponsorship to study on the UK.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union and with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Part-time study is not open to international students requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

Further information on international course fees.

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

Funding

External scholarships and financial support may be available. Contact your enrolling college for more information.