MA Music/Scottish History

About this course

Music and Scottish history is a part-time combination degree at the University of Glasgow that brings together the academic study of music with a focused historical inquiry into Scotland's past. Music as an academic discipline encompasses the technical, cultural, historical, and philosophical dimensions of musical practice: how music is structured, how it works within different social and cultural contexts, and what it means in the many forms it takes across time and place. Scottish history, meanwhile, offers a distinctive lens on the past, examining the development of Scottish society, its political relationships with England and the wider world, its culture and identities, and its role in the broader history of Europe and empire. As a part-time programme, this degree is designed for students who need to fit their studies around existing commitments, allowing you to progress through the degree over a longer period while still experiencing the full depth and rigour of both disciplines. You will be offered a range of options in music and other subjects in each year, allowing you to shape a pathway that matches your particular interests. The music strand develops your capacity for critical and historical thinking about musical works and practices, while the Scottish history modules build the research and analytical skills that historical study demands, training you to engage seriously with evidence and to construct well-reasoned accounts of the past. The degree also includes a year abroad, adding an international dimension to your studies. Glasgow's standing as one of Scotland's leading research universities means that both music and history are taught by academics who are actively contributing to their fields. Graduates from music and Scottish history programmes bring together cultural knowledge and historical understanding in ways that are valued in education, arts administration, cultural heritage, broadcasting, journalism, museum and archive work, and public history. The communication and research skills developed across the degree are also broadly applicable. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in music, history, Scottish studies, or cultural policy.

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