Scottish History
Postgraduate Study

Linda Andersson Burnett

I was meant to come to Edinburgh for three months for an English language course. That was in the last century. Since 1999 I have completed an honours history degree and a postgraduate MSc, and have commenced my PhD - all at Edinburgh University. So how did three months turn into eight years and counting?

A city so steeped in history as Edinburgh, and with such brilliant resources as its own copyright deposit library - the National Library of Scotland - is a haven for any budding historian. I found it the perfect place to do a history degree. After my first degree I decided to broaden my academic portfolio and do a taught MSc called ‘Nation, Writing, Culture’ in the university's English Literature subject area. During my MSc I harnessed my interest in theories of how and why nations are created and maintained, and indulged in reading a large number of historical novels. However, since my heart had always been in history, I decided to return to the School of History, Classics and Archaeology for my PhD in 2006.

There was little doubt in my mind that Scottish History at Edinburgh University would be the best place for my PhD, which investigates the idea of the ‘noble savage’ and how this concept was used to construct cultural identities for the Sami people in Sweden and the Gaels of Highland Scotland during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Not only could the subject area offer me supervision in Scandinavian history, but I also knew from experience that they were a supportive and friendly community of prominent scholars.

Being part of a subject area within the larger school of history has great advantages. We have, for example, our own Scottish history library and a weekly seminar series during which leading scholars give papers on a wide range of topics. Then there is the benefit of being part of the wider School of History, Classics and Archaeology, such as the Postgraduate Resource Centre, and the postgraduate workshops where we can present and discuss our research in a friendly and stimulating environment.

Liv Helene Willumsen

The witches of Scotland brought me from Tromsø in Northern Norway to the beautiful old building of Scottish History at the University of Edinburgh. I am a part-time overseas PhD student at the School of History, Classics and Archaeology, where I am working on a thesis about 17th century witches in Scotland and Northern Norway. What made me aware of the University of Edinburgh as a suitable place for research on witches was its online Survey of Scottish Witchcraft, a website about Scottish witchcraft directed by Dr Julian Goodare.

I have a masters degree from Tromsø University about witches of the high north of Norway. My interest in witches has been a lasting one, and I have for some time been aware of interesting similarities between Scottish and Norwegian witches. Therefore I am glad to have the opportunity to explore this topic further as a postgraduate student in Edinburgh.

I strongly recommend others to take a PhD at the University of Edinburgh. As a part-time student I stay in Edinburgh for nine months during my PhD, the rest of the time I work from Norway. It requires some planning to accomplish a study organized like this, but it is absolutely feasible. During my stays in Edinburgh I discuss my thesis with my first supervisor, Julian Goodare from Scottish History (in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology), and with my second supervisor, Peter Graves from Scandinavian Studies (in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures). When staying in Edinburgh, I am also doing research in archives and libraries.

I find it instructive to study at the University of Edinburgh, where I find expertise within my research area and a friendly atmosphere. Studying at a university in another country gives new perspectives. Fellow students are encouraging and contribute to a good atmosphere in the postgraduate study room. In addition, I have experienced a wonderful city and seen the Scottish scenery with all its lochs and mountains, with a cascade of crocuses in early spring, flowering lilac bushes in the Botanic Gardens in May – not to forget all the castles. All this makes my time as an overseas PhD student to an enjoyable and memorable experience!