Explore the fascinating story of Scotland and earn a Masters in Scottish Heritage.

Join the first Scottish university to offer a degree that combines History, History of Art and Philosophy in this way.

  • Gain the skills to conduct research in archives and library collections, anywhere in the world.
  • Engage with rare archive treasures and unrivalled expertise in Scotland’s rich written, visual and oral past.
  • Discover the stories of the men, women and children who left Scotland’s shores for a new life overseas.
  • Learn to work with many sources and grow your analytical skills.

Under the expert guidance of award-winning online tutors, the focus of your degree can be adapted to you and your own connections to Scotland.

Who can join this online Scottish history degree?

This distance-learning degree is for anyone, anywhere in the world, with a professional or personal interest in Scotland’s history and her people.

Choose the University of Aberdeen for your online Scottish history degree

1st in Scotland for History

Our History department is ranked 1st in Scotland for overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2024.

You’re in expert hands

We’ve been delivering online and distance learning for decades.

20% alumni discount

University of Aberdeen alumni receive 20% off fees for this online degree.

What you’ll study

You can choose to study for a:

  • Masters (180 credits), or
  • start with one of the short courses that make up this degree (30 credits).

Try our degree scheduler

Choose your courses

Choose your courses

See all the courses that are part of this degree and choose what you want to study.

Manage your study schedule

Manage your study schedule

Control the pace and cost of your degree. Decide how much you want to study each term.

Save to your wishlist

Save to your wishlist

Save your schedule to your wishlist so you can view and edit anytime.

Customise your degree

How you’ll study

Online learning

This distance learning Masters in Scottish Heritage is delivered flexibly, 100% online.

You can learn with us anywhere in the world, no student visa required. and manage your study hours to suit you.

Your teaching

Teaching is delivered through MyAberdeen, our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It holds all the materials, tools and support you’ll need in your studies. Take a look around MyAberdeen.

You can access your learning materials on computer, smartphone and laptop, 24 hours a day. You’ll find a range of online resources available, including:

  • lectures
  • videos and audio clips
  • quizzes
  • written, visual and oral source materials
  • discussion boards with your tutors and peers.

Library and archive access

You’ll also have online access to our remarkable University Collections and the Sir Duncan Rice Library. Here you’ll explore ancient Scottish records, manuscripts, prints, photographs and literary collections of leading Scottish writers and poets. Treasures include a large Jacobite collection, works of the Scottish Enlightenment, and one of best collections of Sir Walter Scott’s work.

Your tutors

This online Masters is designed and led by experienced researchers and academics from our History, History of Art and Philosophy departments. You’ll learn from academics with world-leading expertise in Scottish emigration.

Assessments

This degree is assessed entirely online.

The programme provides an outlet for a real passion of mine – Scottish history and heritage. It’s opened my eyes to a whole new world, a network of people I never knew who share the passion.

Alanna MacTavish Khalil, online MLitt Scottish Heritage student

Prior to this course, I did not appreciate the extent to which being a historian is a discipline. This is a course for historians and non-historians alike offering wonderful insight into Scotland’s history and the way that history has been recorded.

Robert McGregor, MLitt Scottish Heritage student, Chief Investment Officer and Executive Director (Philippines)

Your support team

Our friendly team are here to answer any queries you have before, during and after your studies.

Dr Brad Bow

Brad is the degree coordinator. He’ll be on hand to answer any questions about degree content before you start and to help you throughout your studies.

Kate Smith

Kate is part of the School’s support team. She’ll be there throughout your studies to answer any of your non-academic queries.

Get in touch

The online education team is here to answer any questions you have right now about this qualification, or about studying online.

Ask us a question

Where this will take you

Careers

MLitt Scottish Heritage could help you pursue or advance your career in tourism and other related industries.

It also offers excellent continuing professional development opportunities to enhance your skills, particularly in occupations such as:

  • teaching
  • librarianship
  • museum work.

Lifelong career support

Our career support doesn’t stop when you graduate.

You have access to our free careers service while you study, and beyond.

  • 1:1 appointments
  • CV checks
  • Interview prep
  • Job opportunities

Fees and funding

Master of Letters

180 credits

£12,800

This indicative cost is based on 180 credits of study over three years, starting in September 2025.

The fee quoted above is based on you starting your studies with us in the 2025/26 academic year.

Our indicative cost includes a 5% fee rise each year.

Pay as you go

This is a pay-as-you-go qualification.

You do not have to pay the full tuition fee upfront.

You can spread the cost and pay as you go, term by term.

How it works

  • You decide how many credits to study for each term.
  • At the start of term, you pay only for the credits you’re taking that term.
  • This gives you control over your costs and workload for each term of your qualification.

Your personalised cost breakdown

Use the degree scheduler to plan your studies and see your cost breakdown, term by term.

Entry requirements

MLitt

  • A 2:1 (upper-second) honours degree or equivalent (normally a 3.0 GPA in North America).

We also welcome alternative qualifications combined with relevant professional experience. If you don’t have a formal degree qualification, please submit a supporting personal statement with your application.

These are our minimum entry requirements. They are given as a guide and do not guarantee entry.

Short course route to online MLitt Scottish Heritage

If you do not meet these entry requirements, or are not ready to commit to a full MLitt, you may be able to use our online short courses as a route into this degree.

Find out about our short course route to entry

Apply for this programme

Start month
September or January
INDICATIVE COST
£12,800

This indicative cost is based on 180 credits of study over three years, starting in September 2025.

Apply via our Applicant Portal
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