Scandinavian Studies at the University of Edinburgh

Scandinavian Studies at the University of Edinburgh Scotland’s only university department teaching the modern languages of Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

Scandinavian Studies at the University of Edinburgh was established in 1987. Since then, we have been working passionately through our teaching and research to spread knowledge and understanding of the Nordic countries, languages and cultures. We study the Nordic societies and their contributions to the world, present and past, and seek to promote communication, mobility and intercultural relation

s in both directions between Scotland and the Nordic region. Edinburgh is the only place in Scotland where courses in modern Scandinavian languages may be taken at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. In addition to tuition to degree level and beyond in modern Danish, Norwegian and Swedish, we also offer a wide spectrum of courses covering Nordic history, literature, linguistics, society and visual culture, as well as courses in translation and Old Norse. Research environment

We are based in new facilities at 50 George Square, as part of the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures. We run a rich programme of activities, including lectures, conferences, cultural events and practical workshops. Our research community includes our academic staff, honorary fellows, a dynamic core of postgraduate researchers, and well over a hundred undergraduate students. Together we enjoy the support of a dedicated team of teaching and research administrators and technical specialists. Our aim is to conduct world-leading research and support our students in a friendly, inclusive and supportive atmosphere. We have developeda network of collaboration with colleagues across the University's uniquely diverse research milieu. We have a strong track record in Nordic research and are active in fields such as:

- Language and linguistics (including language history, language policy, historical and critical onomastics, dialectology and linguistic landscapes)

- Literature and culture (including nations, transnationalism, postnationalism, diasporas and migration, geocriticism, travel writing, children's literature and literary translation)

- Broader cultural, social, historical and geographical topics including the Viking, medieval, modern and contemporary eras. Learning atmosphere

Our small class sizes offer many advantages: those learning with us will very quickly get to know their fellow studetns and the members of staff, their language learning will inevitably be active rather than passive, and they will find that the teaching is done in an informal atmosphere in which their individual input will, perhaps, be greater than in a larger department.

A selection of pics from Tromsø and Bergen from our current 3rd year Norwegian students Josh, Erin and Geneva. They are ...
07/09/2026

A selection of pics from Tromsø and Bergen from our current 3rd year Norwegian students Josh, Erin and Geneva. They are currently on their year abroad and have done well to capture the Scandi vibe so early on!

A selection of pictures from Tromsø and Bergen from our current 3rd year Norwegian students Josh, Erin and Geneva. They ...
07/09/2026

A selection of pictures from Tromsø and Bergen from our current 3rd year Norwegian students Josh, Erin and Geneva. They really have captured the Scandi vibe!

Many congratulations to Connie and to Major General Sir Nils Olav III, Baron of Bouvet Island, on this egg-citing news f...
21/08/2026

Many congratulations to Connie and to Major General Sir Nils Olav III, Baron of Bouvet Island, on this egg-citing news for Scottish-Norwegian relations! 🇳🇴🐧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

🥚 EGGCITING NEWS FROM PENGUINS ROCK 🥚

King penguin Connie has laid an egg... and none other than Major General Sir Nils Olav is the dad🎖️🐧

As if that’s not exciting enough, this is the first king penguin egg to be laid at Edinburgh Zoo in 17 years!

Visitors may spot Connie and Nils tucked up in a quiet corner, caring for the egg. We’re keeping everything crossed for these first-time parents 💛

Congratulations to Dr Joe Wade!
03/07/2026

Congratulations to Dr Joe Wade!

Congratulations to our Scandinavian Studies graduates of 2026. We’re all very proud of you and wish you all the best in ...
03/07/2026

Congratulations to our Scandinavian Studies graduates of 2026. We’re all very proud of you and wish you all the best in the future!

19/06/2026

Book launch - 25 June

Following SSNS's recent publication of its edited volume in honour of the late Dr Anna Ritchie, a launch event will be organised on Thursday 25 June from 15:30pm in Edinburgh.

Please join us to celebrate, remember, and raise a glass to Anna Ritchie and her work as archaeologist, author, and lifelong advocate of Scotland’s premodern history and heritage.

All welcome!

Details: 25 June - 15:30 to 17:45. Room 1.06 (Project Room), School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures, University of Edinburgh, 50 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9LH.

Will Wakely, one of our PhD students, recently completed a period of preliminary fieldwork in Norway with support from t...
01/06/2026

Will Wakely, one of our PhD students, recently completed a period of preliminary fieldwork in Norway with support from the Scottish Arctic Network's Travel and Partnerships Fund. In his project, Will is investigating island identities in Norway and Scotland. 🏝️🇳🇴🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Follow the link below for some insights from his recent travels! 👀

Researching Island Identities in Coastal Communities in Norway Author: Hayley McLennan Published on: 1 May 2026 Published in: Uncategorised Will Wakely, University of Edinburgh, was part-funded by the Arctic Travel and Partnerships Fund to complete fieldwork for his PhD on island identities in coast...

Recently we were of course celebrating Norwegian Constitution Day on 17 May, as we do every year! In this post from our ...
29/05/2026

Recently we were of course celebrating Norwegian Constitution Day on 17 May, as we do every year! In this post from our friends in the Norwegian Scottish Association you can see some of our students and staff carrying flags and banners for the parade from the Royal Mile down to the Norwegian Memorial Stone in Princes Street Gardens.

Later, some of our fourth-year students, postgraduate students, and staff were also in attendance at the reception kindly hosted by the Royal Norwegian Consulate General.

Hurra for 17. mai! 🇳🇴

Andrew Orr's latest book 'The Flight of the Vikings' is now available in paperback edition! Take a look below:
30/04/2026

Andrew Orr's latest book 'The Flight of the Vikings' is now available in paperback edition! Take a look below:

When the full might of N**i Germany descended without warning upon neutral Norway in April 1940, many brave Norwegians wanted to escape to Britain to…

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50 George Square
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EH89LH

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