Start with a short course
Our online short courses provide an alternative entry route to this online Masters degree if:
- you want to get your postgraduate studies started without committing to a full Masters
- you’ve missed the deadline to apply for the full degree, or
- you do not meet the formal degree entry requirements.
A way to study for this online Masters without a degree
Our entry-route short courses are self-evaluating.
This means you do not need to provide formal qualifications to study them. If you believe you’re academically capable, you’re welcome to join a course.
To help you decide if a short course is right for you, check the entry guidance on each course page. This explains the level of teaching involved.
How it works
- Complete 30 credits’ worth of short courses that are part of this online Masters.
- Then apply to transfer to the online Masters in August 2023.
By earning 30 credits successfully, you’ll have proved you’re capable of learning at this level. You’ll then be eligible to apply to transfer to the online Masters, even if you do not hold the formal degree entry qualifications.
Degree transfers take place once a year, in August only. The next opportunity to transfer is August 2023.

Buy
Purchase and complete at least 30 credits’ worth of short courses that are part of this online Masters degree.

Apply
We’ll contact you during your studies to help you apply to transfer to the online Masters in August 2023.

Transfer
Provided the degree coordinator is happy with your performance, and you meet our English language requirements, we can transfer you in August 2023.
Get started on the short course route
To start on the entry path to this online MLitt, complete 30 credits’ worth of the following recommended courses by August 2023.
Each course is worth 30 credits towards our online MLitt Scottish Heritage.
These courses are delivered at postgraduate Masters level. At this level of teaching, you’d normally have:
- a 2:1 (upper-second) honours degree or equivalent (normally a 3.0 GPA in North America), or
- alternative qualifications combined with relevant professional experience.
Courses starting on 19 September 2022

Approaches to Research: Archives and Sources (30 credits)
Gain the skills you need to conduct research in archives and library collections anywhere in the world.
Buy Approaches to Research: Archives and Sources
Scotland: A Millennium of History (30 credits)
Access fascinating source materials as you evaluate Scotland’s global impact over the past millennium, from the medieval period to the modern day.
Buy Scotland: A Millennium of HistoryCourses starting on 23 January 2023

Scottish Visual History (30 credits)
Examine Scottish art across a period of 150 years. Explore how it evolved, what makes it Scottish, and what this visual history tells us about Scotland in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Buy Scottish Visual History
The Scottish Diaspora (30 credits)
Explore the stories of the men, women and children who left Scotland’s shores for a new life overseas.
Buy The Scottish DiasporaPurchasing your courses
To join a course, apply via the course page and follow the application and checkout process.
Courses are available to purchase until one week after their start date, but we encourage you to purchase your courses as early as possible to ensure a smooth start to your studies.
Study at your own pace
- Each 30-credit course is around 15 – 20 hours of study time per week, plus extra at assessment time.
If you’re planning to study part-time, especially if you’re studying around full-time work, we recommend taking a maximum of 30 credits per term.
You can access our online learning platform 24/7, and you can largely set your hours to suit you. You can take study breaks between courses too, as long as you complete your Masters within six years.
Online Masters route not for you?
You do not have to transfer to the Masters degree. Our online short courses give you the flexibility to:
- study any short course standalone, earning credits with each one
- build your credits up to a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma instead
- continue course by course, at your own pace, with the option to transfer to the online Masters when you’re ready.
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to the most common questions we receive about our short course routes.
If your question is not answered here, we’re here to help. Get in touch.