Burke, Hare and the University of Edinburgh’s School of Anatomy

This one-day course looks at the era of Burke and Hare at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Anatomy.

Based within the Surgeon’s Hall Museum, you will explore the time of Burke and Hare, Edinburgh’s society, economy and culture and how this led to a period of criminal activity. You will learn about the School of Anatomy and laws surrounding the use of bodies for dissection, as well as the phenomenon of body snatchers. The course will use original sources to think about crime, poverty and social class in Burke and Hare’s world.

Informal lectures and discussion in the classroom will include focus on items in the museum collections.  Access to Surgeons’ Hall Museum is included.

Any essential or recommended reading will be shared by the course teacher once the course is confirmed to run.

You will require access to a device with an internet connection.

If you have fully engaged with all the learning activities and have attended regularly, by the end of the course, you should be able to:

• Identify the evidence  displayed in Surgeon’s Hall Museum and outline how it contributes to our historical understanding
• Describe the social and economic context of medical study in early 19th-century Edinburgh
• Examine the actions of Burke, Hare and Knox, and the connection between science and crime in their context

 No previous experience is required, however an interest in the history of Edinburgh, medicine or law and crime would be helpful.

We welcome all and are committed to fostering a positive culture and sense of community among learners and staff. We expect learners to treat others with dignity and respect. Learners must be aged 16+.

If you have a disability, learning difficulty, health condition, or personal circumstances which may affect your learning, please let us know so that we can make appropriate adjustments in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

Wherever possible, we mainstream adjustments in line with the University’s Accessible and Inclusive Learning Policy. Learners will have limited access to the University’s student support services.

This course is suitable for those with no prior experience of university study.

You will need to have reading, listening and communication skills, including the ability to understand detailed ideas and information presented verbally and in writing. You must be comfortable learning in English if it is not your first language. You will need basic digital skills, such as using a computer and navigating a website, to access the learning materials.