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 course covers:

• Culture and heritage: cultural identity of the Highlands and Islands, its communities and issues affecting the region, within the context of Scotland, the British Isles and internationally

• Sociology: the study of the development, structure, and functioning of human society

Special features

• Gain a unique understanding of Scotland and the communities of the Highlands and Islands: the customs, traditions and values
• Choose from a range of interdisciplinary subjects to suit your own interests and career path
• 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 two core culture and heritage modules:

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

You will also study two core sociology modules:

• Understanding the social world
• Making social lives

Plus two option modules from across the university's humanities portfolio.

Year 2 - DipHE

You will study the following core modules:

Culture and heritage

• Images of Scotland: constructing heritage through photographs OR
• Tradition, custom and belief PLUS one of the following:
• Golden mead and burning hearts
• Languages on the edge
• Displaying the past: museum studies (subject to numbers)

Sociology

• Sociological theory OR Beliefs, culture and community
• Qualitative research methods

You will also choose two option modules from across the university's humanities portfolio.

Year 3 - BA

You will study one core module in culture and heritage:

• Interdisciplinary project

Plus two options which may incude:

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

* modules run on alternate years

You will also study three sociology modules:

• Advanced social research methods
• Work and society
• Sociology: contemporary Scottish issues

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

You will complete a dissertation in culture and heritage or sociology.

You will also study one option module from your chosen dissertation subject, plus three option modules from the other subject.

Culture and heritage modules:

• 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)

Sociology modules:

• Insiders and outsiders in society
• Visual research
• Understanding crime
• Network society: mass media and the information age
• Restorative justice 

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 your enrolling college for more information.