Literature and Sociology BA (Hons)

What is special about this course?

Most of our humanities subjects can be studied as joint honours as well as single honours. Joint honours programmes give you the opportunity to combine two subjects, which complement your interests or career goals. You will usually concentrate on both subjects equally. It can be possible to transfer between single and joint honours options, usually during your first or second year, and advice will be available from your personal academic tutor.

This joint degree covers:

• Literature: using a wide range of authors and texts, from classic to contemporary, explores literature in a global context, looking in depth at language and literary history.
• Sociology: the study of the development, structure, and functioning of human society

Please see our FAQ sheet for further information on this course.

Special features

• You will study literature in an international context
• You will be part of a vibrant research culture from your first semester
• You can study full time or part time to suit your personal circumstances
• You can study individual modules for personal or professional development

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 subjects
• Applicants with other relevant qualifications or experience will be considered on an individual basis
• This is a Category 2 PVG course: PVG Scheme membership is required for specific optional modules/unit(s), where there is guaranteed contact with vulnerable groups in optional module/unit(s), but an alternative pathway exists to achieve target qualification. For further information visit our PVG scheme webpage

Advanced entry to year two:

• HNC Social Science (12 SQA credits) with 3 additional SQA credits at level 7 which is equivalent to 120 degree credit points, 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

You will study the following core modules:

Literature

• Theories of literature: an introduction (S1)
• Travellers in the wilderness: literature and exile (S2)

Sociology

• The enquiring student (S1)
• Making social lives: the Highlands and Islands (S2)

You will choose two further option modules from a range of literature, sociology, and other humanities subjects.

Year 2 - DipHE

Literature

You will study two modules, which may include:

• Medieval literature: text and contexts (S1)
• An introduction to Gaelic poetry (S1)
• Theatrical powerplay: classical and modern tragedy (S2)
• Heroic literature: epic from classical to contemporary (S2)

Sociology

You will also study two core modules:

• Sociological theory: continuity and change (S1)
• Belief, culture and community (S2)

You will choose two further option modules from a range of literature, sociology, and other humanities subjects.

Year 3 - BA

Literature

You will choose three modules, which may include:

• Romantic genius: Scottish and European literature 1750-1830 (S1)
• Risk anything! The modernist short story (S1)
• Literary borrowings: adaptations and appropriations (S1)
• Imagining new worlds: renaissance literature and thought (S2)
• Nature writing and ecology (S2)

Sociology

You will also choose three modules, which may include:

• Advanced social research methods (S1)
• Work and society (S1)
• Sociology: contemporary Scottish Issues (S2)
• Frontiers, landscapes and journeys (S2) 

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

You will complete a dissertation in literature or sociology. You will also study one option module from your chosen dissertation subject plus three option modules from the other subject.

Literature

Modules may include:

• Avant-garde literature (S1)
• Apocalyptic fictions (S1)
• Metafiction: self-referential texts (S2)
• Satire: the art of attack (S2)

Sociology

Modules may include:

• Cultural criminology (S1)
• Network society: mass media and the information age (S1)
• Insiders and outsiders in society (S2)
• Restorative justice: ideas and values (S2) 

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 the UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland) or assessed as rest of the UK for fee status the following fees apply:

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK studying online from their home country, or living in the UK but assessed as international for fee status, the following fees apply:

This includes EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled status in the UK and EEA and Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

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

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.