Medieval and Early Modern Scotland explores the history of Scotland from the origins of the kingdom until the parliamentary union with England in 1707. During the middle ages, Scotland emerged as an independent kingdom with a role to play in the major events that shaped the development of Britain and Europe. Much of its character and outlook were created by the fact that it had to defend its independence against an aggressive neighbour. In the early modern period, Scotland was transformed by the Reformation and the Union of the Crowns, adjusting to a new religion, friendship with its old enemy England and a new political framework.

The course represents the expansion and completion of an innovative collaborative venture on the part of two universities - the University of Dundee and the Open University in Scotland. It also brings together, through the five specially commissioned course books which form the backbone of the course, an impressive range of authorities on aspects of Scottish history from historians and archaeologists based in Scotland, England, Canada and the USA.

Medieval and Early Modern Scotland is an Honours level course which can be taken by Open University students as a Level 3 course, and by anyone else who can demonstrate an ability to study at that level.