What is special about this course?

Combining the complementary subjects of culture and heritage with history, this joint degree covers a wide range of subjects from early history through to the modern day.  You will explore culture, history, language, literature and much more, within a national and international context, preparing you for life beyond university. 

As you progress through the course, you will choose from a combination of modules, equally balanced between the two disciplines. You will have the opportunity to participate in an optional museum studies module, as well as possible volunteering positions across the Highlands.

Special features

• Study culture, heritage and history in a global context
• Choose from a range of interdisciplinary subjects to suit your own interests and career path
• Gain and polish your research skills
• Study full-time or part-time to suit your personal circumstances
• Individual modules can be studied for personal and professional development

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 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 Culture and Heritage modules:

• Scotland: the brand OR What is culture?
• Languages of the Highlands and Islands OR Scotland's music

You will study the following history modules:

• What is history? PLUS
• A Middle Age? Europe c. 1000-1500 OR
• People, power and protest: themes in modern British history

You will choose a further two option modules from a range of history, culture and heritage and other humanities subjects

Year 2 - DipHE

You will study the following Culture and Heritage modules:

• Images of Scotland OR Tradition, custom and belief

Plus one of the following:

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

You will study the following history modules:

• Historians and history PLUS
• A curious age: Europe 1500-1789 OR
• Themes in American history

You will choose a further two option modules from a range of history, culture and heritage and other humanities subjects

Year 3 - BA

You will study one of the two core modules (either public history or an interdisciplinary project) and a further five options, ensuring a balance of three culture and heritage and three history modules. You may take one Scottish history module in place of one history module.

Culture and Heritage modules may include:

• Perceptions of heritage
• Visions of the past
• Scotland in film
• Scottish enlightenment and Highland society*
• People and the natural environment*

* modules run on alternate years

History modules may include:

• A clash of civilisations: the Crusades, c. 1096-1198
• Cultural centres and economic powerhouses: London, Hamburg and Amsterdam during the early modern period
• War and chivalry in Medieval Britain and France
• Queer Britannia: gender, sexuality and performative identities in Britain, 1800-1950
• This sporting life: identities, culture and sport in Britain and the Empire, 1850-2000
• Books and blackboards: education in Britain and North America, 1700-1900
• Alps, hills and plain: a history of central Europe
• Expatriates or Europeans? The British and the Irish, east of the river Rhine, c. 600-1688
• Crime, custom and conflict, 1700 - 1850

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

You will complete a dissertation in culture and heritage or history. You will also study one option module from your chosen dissertation subject, plus three option modules from the other subject. You may take one Scottish history module in place of one history module.

Culture and Heritage subjects may include:

• A tour of the Highlands
• Contemporary Scottish poetry (subject to minimum numbers)
• Celtic and Celtic revival art in Scotland 600-2000 (subject to minimum numbers)
• People, plants and animals (runs January 2018)
• Gaelic legacy (runs January 2019)

History subjects may include:

• Through a glass darkly: the medieval in film
• War cruel and sharp: a military history of the Hundred Years’ War
• Fight the power: music and the politics of black America
• Wagner to pulp: music and identities in Britain and Europe
• Gender in American culture and society
• Death and destruction: the social impact of the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648)
• Lordship, colony, kingdom: the making of Ireland

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Note: The Scottish Government set this fee which has not yet been confirmed for 2021-22 so may be subject to change.

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) - £1,500.

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 has confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals starting their study in Scotland from academic year 2021-22, who do not have settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes. For 2021-22, 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.

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 student 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 the relevant university partner college for more information.