Scandinavian Studies
Scandinavian studies is the academic discipline devoted to the languages, cultures, histories, and societies of the Nordic countries, including Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and Finland, as well as the associated territories of the Faroe Islands and Greenland. The region is, by many measures, among the most interesting in the world to study: its political and social systems have been influential globally, its literature and film have had a disproportionate international impact, its environmental and welfare policies are widely studied, and its languages carry a literary tradition stretching back to the sagas of medieval Iceland and the Elder Edda.
At University College London, this four-year, full-time programme gives you the opportunity to engage deeply with the Nordic world through language, literature, and cultural and historical study. UCL has one of the strongest Scandinavian studies departments in the UK, and the programme reflects genuine research strength in Old Norse, modern Scandinavian literature, Nordic cinema, and contemporary Nordic society. You will typically learn one or more Scandinavian languages from scratch or develop existing knowledge to an advanced level, while engaging with texts, films, and cultural phenomena from across the region.
Studying in London provides access to the Nordic cultural organisations, embassies, and commercial connections that make the city an exceptionally good place to develop expertise in this area. The four-year degree structure allows you to develop real language proficiency alongside your cultural and analytical knowledge.
Graduates work in translation and interpreting, diplomacy, journalism, international business, cultural organisations, publishing, academic research, and Nordic-connected industries including energy, shipping, and maritime sectors. Postgraduate study in Scandinavian studies, linguistics, Nordic history, or area studies is a natural next step for those who wish to develop specialist expertise or pursue research careers.