
Master in Viking Studies
DURATION
1 up to 2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Feb 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 14,994 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, On-Campus
* Online study - Scottish: £5,256 | Rest of UK: £7,020 | International: £9,990
Key Summary
Introduction
What is special about this course?
The Vikings have been incredibly influential in world history and culture. The Institute for Northern Studies' team will be using their recognized expertise in this area to create this unique and exciting course on offer to students all over the world and to re-evaluate the Vikings; past, present, and future.
Students will be able to critically evaluate key historical, economic, and social developments in the Viking world and analyze the significance and legacy of the cultural history of the Vikings both in isolation and in a wider context temporally and geographically. You will look at Viking iconography in text and film, the role of women, and the significance of runes among other fascinating topics.
As part of the degree, you will study a set of core modules and also have the opportunity to choose from a range of optional modules, bringing the study of the Viking period into a wider perspective.
Special features
- Unique course content not available anywhere else
- You are taught by international experts in the field
- We use video conferencing and a virtual learning environment to deliver the course so you can study from anywhere in the world
- Small class sizes
- You can also choose unique options in literature, language, creative writing, and the North Atlantic world
- You can study individual modules for personal or professional development, or work towards the PgCert, PgDip, or full master's degree
Curriculum
PgCert
You will study the following core module:
- Discovering the past: introduction to interdisciplinary research methods
Plus, two further modules from the following:
- Vikings in Scotland and the Irish Sea region: settlement, burial and ritual
- Vikings in the landscape
- Gender in Viking society: warriors, travellers and farmers
PgDip
You will study the one remaining module from those listed in the PgCert, plus two optional modules from the following:
- Celts and Vikings in the North Atlantic
- Exploring creative writing
- Medieval history of Orkney and Shetland
- Picts: revealing the painted past
- Runology and Old Norse
- Small island governance
- Selling cold islands
- Tour of the Highlands
- Traditional customs and beliefs of the Highlands and Islands
- Visualising the Vikings: Vikings in popular culture
MLitt
To achieve the award of MLitt Viking Studies you must complete a research dissertation.
Program delivery
Start date
- September
- January (online only)
How will I study my course?
- Full-time
- Part-time (structured)
- Part-time (unstructured)
- You will learn through a combination of video conference seminars and tutorials, and online study via the university's virtual learning environment (VLE), with support from your tutors and student advisor
- International students requiring a Student Route visa to study with us must be based at UHI Orkney during their studies. International students undertaking the course from their home country can study online and by video conference, in real-time or through recordings
- All other students can choose to study at UHI Orkney, or from their location studying online and by video conference in real-time or recordings
- An online induction will be offered at the start of your course
How long will my course last?
- Full-time: 1 year @ 20 hours per week
- Part-time structure: 2 years @ 10 hours per week
The number of hours per week indicates the total number of hours you should dedicate to the course, which includes time spent in lectures and your own time spent on individual study and research.
Where can I study my course?
- On-campus: Orkney
- Online
Program Tuition Fee
Admissions
Why study at University of the Highlands and Islands
Achieve a UK degree without moving abroad
Courses in health, sustainability, engineering, history, outdoors and more with the University of the Highlands and Islands:
- Flexible study options to fit with your life
- #3 in the UK and #1 in Scotland for postgraduate student satisfaction
- Top 10 most affordable UK universities
- Decades of online teaching experience
Browse all of the online undergraduate and postgraduate programmes that we offer for international students.
Student Testimonials
Career Opportunities
What can I do on completion of my course?
Once you have completed your MLitt Viking Studies, there are a variety of careers you might like to consider. Here is just a taste of the kind of opportunities available to you:
- Tourism and heritage sector
- School teaching on completion of relevant PGDE qualification
- Community Education
- Adult education
- Journalism; particularly newspaper and radio
- Working for local government agencies
- Teaching on this or similar degrees
Can I progress into further study?
You can progress to PhD study at the University of the Highlands and Islands and other institutions.