History
Founded by Professor David Daiches in 1947, the summer school brings together students and academics who, irrespective of their national, religious, cultural or gender differences, share a love of literature and the arts. The summer school strives to share in the inclusive spirit of the Edinburgh International Festival and British Council, also founded in the same year!
Education
The Contemporary British and Irish Theatre and Performance programme offers a unique course in the theory and practice of drama in Britain and Ireland today. This two-week course provides a challenging, dynamic and diverse introduction to contemporary theatre with a global impact. The course coincides with the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Research
Edinburgh is an acclaimed centre of learning. The National Library of Scotland (NLS) is a copyright library, and holds a copy of every book published in the United Kingdom. One of the largest and finest collections in the British Isles, the NLS provides outstanding facilities for research in all fields. The resources of the NLS are complimented by The University of Edinburgh Library, the extensive collections of which are designed to meet the needs of both undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Short Courses
Humanities (4)
- Short Course Contemporary Literature
- Short Course Creative Writing
- Short Course Modernism
- Short Course Scottish Literature
Arts, Design & Architecture (1)
- Short Course Theatre and Performance
Social Sciences (1)
- Short Course Scottish Literature
Library services
Situated just across George Square from us, the Library holds the University’s primary collections in arts, humanities and social sciences, its special collections of rare books and manuscripts, and its archives - collectively, some two million printed volumes and unparalleled electronic resources.
Edinburgh is the first Unesco World City of Literature, and is home to highly acclaimed authors such as JK Rowling, Irvine Welsh, Ian Rankin and Alexander McCall Smith to name just a few. Around 4 million people visit our beautiful city every year, many of them for the Edinburgh International Book Festival in August – ‘the largest public celebration of the written word in the world’ – but many to explore the literary city and all it has to offer the book lover.
During the summer, Edinburgh hosts the largest arts and music festival in the world, which includes the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Edinburgh International Book Festival and the Jazz Festival. The cityscape is dominated by the extinct volcanoes of Arthur’s Seat and Edinburgh Castle. The setting and wealth of architectural styles found in both the Medieval Old Town and the Georgian New Town make it one of the most beautiful and lively cities in the world.