Photographs/Images: © Shetland Museum & Archives Photo Library, University of the Highlands and Islands, Visit Orkney, CNS staff, Christopher Gee, Jonas Rydin, Sigurd Towrie and Steven Heddle

“A great course and lots of fun!” Elizabeth Gray, 2011 summer course student

“Learning was great fun. I met new

friends with common interests.” Kim Foden, 2011 summer course student

Centre for Nordic Studies

Orkney & Shetland

Summer Courses 2012

Viking Culture

www.nordic.uhi.ac.uk www.nordic.uhi.ac.uk

Explore Viking religion, mythology,

archaeology, runes, sagas and more with

our expert lecturers and guides on the

Viking Islands of Orkney and Shetland

Venues Orkney: The Orkney Summer Course will take place at the Centre for Nordic Studies, Kiln Corner, Kirkwall, which is in Kirkwall’s town centre.

Shetland: The Shetland Summer Course will take place in Unst, Shetland’s most northerly island and at the North Atlantic Fisheries College (NAFC), Scalloway which is 5 miles from Lerwick, Shetland’s capital.

Study Mode A mixture of lectures by expert staff from the Centre for Nordic Studies and field trips around the islands with our

qualified tourist guides brings the Viking heritage of Orkney and Shetland alive.

Cost £400 per week, to include all lectures and field trips. Optional activities such as sailing on a Viking boat (Shetland) or the Viking Feast will be at an additional charge. Programmes are ILA registered (see below). Local island residents: £250 (local Summer School only)

Travel & Accommodation There are excellent ferry and air links to both islands, with connections from all major Scottish airports as well as a direct flight from Bergen (Norway) to Shetland from May-August (please check with Flybe.com directly). Accommodation is available on campus in Shetland. Accommodation in Orkney can be booked with a range of bed & breakfast providers or two hostels in close walking distance to the campus in Kirkwall.

Credits

This course is accredited with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and is worth 5 SQA credits. To qualify for credits a written paper will be required. If you are interested in gaining credit tick the appropriate box on the application form.

Individual Learning Account, Scotland If you live in Scotland you may be eligible for an Individual Learning Account payment of up to £200. Check their website for details, www.ilascotland.org.uk. You must have your ILA in place before applying in order for it to be eligible for part-payment towards our Summer Courses. The ILA can only be used for part-payment towards a full week of the Summer programmes.

Orkney 9—13 July Where? Centre for Nordic Studies, Kirkwall

Shetland 23—27 July Where? Saxa Vord, Unst & NAFC Marine

Centre, Scalloway

Inter-island ferry fares in Shetland and Orkney and all en-

trance fees are included in the price. Accommodation at

the Scalloway Campus and Saxa Vord Resort in Unst can

be booked at a separate charge. Please note on your

booking form if you require accommodation.

Booking Form

COMPLETE IN BLOCK CAPITALS

Your Full Name

Address

Postcode

Contact Telephone

Email

Payment: We prefer payment by cheque, which should be made

payable to Orkney Islands Council. Please tick your method of

payment(s) below. If you have an ILA, please ensure it is in place

before applying, and give us your registration number below.

Centre for Nordic Studies

University of the Highlands & Islands

Kiln Corner

Kirkwall

Orkney

KW15 1QX

Tel: +44 01856 569300

Cash

Individual Learning Account - Number:

Card payment (see below)

Cheque

We can take credit/debit card payments by two methods:

Online. Go to www.orkney.gov.uk

Choose Online Payments / Other Payments / Orkney College*

Over the telephone, phone 01856 569300

* Choose SQA Credit Bearing only if you wish to gain a qualification

and are prepared to sit an assessment in the form of an essay.

SQA Credit bearing *

Orkney Summer Course Shetland Summer Course

Please tick here if you require accommodation in Shetland (we shall

be in touch)

I would like to attend the ((please tick):)

This week-long summer programme will

take you to the Orkney Islands of Rousay

and Egilsay, and to the mythical Maeshowe

chambered tomb. Lectures and fieldtrips

will follow the themes below.

Viking Voyages: We will be guided through the Vikings’ voyages, navigation and ship building techniques, followed by a field trip to a Viking

harbour.

Viking Society: Norse pre-Christian religion and conversion, their law and administrative organisation. We visit the seat of the Earl of Orkney and cult site of St Magnus.

Everyday life: What did the Vikings wear, how did

they live, what did they eat? We explore practical life in the Viking age with a hands-on approach and opportunities to taste.

Saga day: Day trip to the islands of Rousay and Egilsay, where we visit pivotal sites from the Orkneyinga Saga while learning about the literature of the Norse people.

Runes day: Make your own runic inscription while learning about the ancient writing of the Vikings. The field trip visits Maeshowe chambered tomb, containing Britain’s largest assemblage of runic inscriptions.

This week-long summer programme will

take you to Scotland’s most northerly

island, Unst and Shetland’s ancient capital,

Scalloway. Lectures and fieldtrips will

follow the themes below:

Viking Voyages: We will study Viking voyages,

navigation and ship building techniques. The

field trip visits a reconstructed Viking longship.

There will be the option to sail on a Viking ship!

Viking Society and Landscapes: Who were

the Vikings? Where did they settle? We will

look at archaeological evidence, laws and

religion, and visit the remains of a longhouse

and a ‘ting’ (local assembly site).

Vikings in Popular Culture: Learn about

Vikings in popular culture and film, including

the Shetland Winter Fire Festival Up-Helly-Aa.

We will visit the Galley shed to meet modern-

day Vikings, and see where replica Viking

galleys are made.

Sagas and Everyday Life: We will learn about

the literature of the Norse people, their stories,

myths and folklore. An optional Viking Feast

will give you a taste of food inspired by the

Norse settlers.

Runes and Games: Make your own runic

inscription while learning about the ancient

alphabet of the Vikings. Learn a Viking game

and participate in a Hnefatafl or Kubb

tournament!