Dr David Summers Master of Research (MRes) Studentship in Scottish Literature

About the Project

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Edinburgh Napier University is the #1 modern university in Scotland (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025), the leading university in Edinburgh for student satisfaction for five years in a row (National Student Survey 2020–2024), and the top Scottish modern university for research power and impact (Research Excellence Framework 2021). Our research students form a friendly and welcoming community, and benefit from the extensive support we provide, including dedicated supervision and excellent facilities, training, and professional development.

The Dr David Summers Master of Research (MRes) Studentship in Scottish Literature covers fees up to the cost of £5000 for a student to undertake an MRes project in any aspect of Scottish Literature. The university has highly-regarded research expertise in Scottish Literature and, located in Scotland’s capital city, the university is an ideal location to study Scottish literary culture.

We are particularly interested in the following areas, but are open to speculative proposals:

• Scottish literature as World literature
• Scottish modernism, Scottish revivalism, and/or the Scottish Literary Renaissance
• Scottish literature from a comparative small-nation perspective
• Scottish literature and war
• Europe and Europeanness in Scottish literature
• Crime and Imprisonment in Scottish literary culture, including the history and archive of Scottish PEN
• The history of Scottish cultural organisations
• Scottish literature and colonial legacies
• Scottish literature and graphic narratives
• Scottish literature and ecocriticism
• Scottish science fiction
• Scottish literature and science
• Scottish literature, gender, and sexuality
• Scottish literature, social class, and the economic system

Academic Qualifications

A first degree (at least a 2:1) ideally in Scottish and/or English/British Literature, with a good fundamental knowledge of the literature of the relevant period and its related socio-cultural contexts.

English Language Requirement

IELTS score must be at least 6.5 (with not less than 6.0 in each of the four components). Other equivalent qualifications will be accepted. See the University webpage: https://www.napier.ac.uk/study-with-us/international-students/english-language/english-language-requirements

Essential attributes:

• Experience of fundamental literary research and textual analysis.
• Competent in critical-theoretical approaches in literary and cultural studies.
• Knowledge of the literary cultures of Scotland.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Strong motivation, with evidence of independent research skills relevant to the project.
• Good time management.

Desirable attributes:

• Readiness to work constructively from supervisory feedback.
• Willingness to engage with relevant research communities in the School of Arts and Creative Industries.

Deadlines & timescale: Our standard entry times for research degrees are October and March, but you can make your application at any time and it will be considered for the next available intake, in this case: apply by 31 May 2026 for potential entry on 1 October 2026, or by 30 November 2026 for potential entry on 1 March 2027.

For informal enquiries about this MRes project, please contact Dr Scott Lyall (s.lyall@napier.ac.uk) before applying for guidance on the submission procedures for applications in response to adverts. For information on the documents you need to prepare for an application, please see these webpages:

https://www.napier.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/doctoral-college/application-guidance

Funding Notes

The award is for fees only and does not involve a stipend. Fees will be paid to the value of £5000. The remaining cost of fees for full-time or part-time study will be paid by the student (the standard study period of the MRes is 12 months full-time and 20 months part-time).