Celtic and Scottish Literature

Celtic and Scottish literature brings together two interconnected traditions that are among the oldest and most distinctive in the British Isles. Celtic literature encompasses the languages and literary cultures of Gaelic Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Brittany, and Cornwall, stretching from medieval manuscripts and bardic poetry through to contemporary writing in Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Welsh. Scottish literature in English and Scots runs alongside that tradition, from the medieval makars and the poetry of Robert Burns through the Scottish Enlightenment, the novels of Walter Scott, and the remarkable creative energy of twentieth-century Scottish writing.

Studying both together, at a university located in Scotland, gives you a unique vantage point on the literary cultures of the British Isles and the relationships between them.

At the University of Edinburgh, this four-year, full-time programme follows the Scottish honours structure and is taught within a faculty with genuine research strength in both areas. You will develop skills in close reading, literary analysis, and critical writing, engaging with texts in translation alongside those you can read in their original languages depending on the languages you study. The history and theory of literary criticism run through the programme, and you will develop the ability to situate literary works within their historical, cultural, and political contexts with precision and nuance.

The programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to pursue related studies at an international partner institution and to experience the breadth of Celtic and literary studies beyond Scotland.

Graduates work in publishing, journalism, cultural organisations, education, broadcasting, the civil service, and heritage, as well as going on to postgraduate research in Celtic studies, Scottish studies, literary criticism, or related fields. Edinburgh's strong research culture and its connections to the Scottish literary scene make it an excellent place to build a career in cultural and literary life.