Anthropology and Gaelic
Anthropology and Gaelic studies is a pairing that brings together the scientific and humanistic study of what it means to be human with an in-depth engagement with Scotland's oldest living language and the cultural world it carries. Anthropology examines human societies, cultures and behaviours across time and place, drawing on ethnographic fieldwork, comparative analysis and theoretical frameworks from sociology, biology and psychology to understand the full range of human social organisation. Scottish Gaelic studies provides a specific and rich example of that diversity, examining a living minority language with deep historical roots in Scotland and connections to other Celtic languages and cultures.
At the University of Aberdeen you will study across four years of full-time study, including a year abroad that places you in a wider cultural and perhaps Gaelic-speaking context. You will develop both language skills in Gaelic and the scholarly understanding of its origins, literature and cultural significance, alongside the broad anthropological training that equips you to understand human societies on their own terms. The programme has a particular focus on the peoples of the north of Scotland, giving it a strong sense of regional identity within a globally comparative discipline.
Graduates in anthropology and Gaelic studies find roles in Gaelic-medium education, arts and cultural organisations, broadcasting, community development, heritage and museum work, development agencies and international organisations. The anthropological training is valued in social research, policy, health, NGO work and humanitarian fields, while the Gaelic specialism opens doors in Scottish cultural and linguistic contexts. Many graduates pursue postgraduate study in Celtic studies, social anthropology, development studies, cultural heritage management or education, taking the distinctive combination of skills into research and professional careers with an international as well as a distinctly Scottish dimension.