Celtic & Anglo Saxon Studies and Theology & Religion

Celtic and Anglo-Saxon studies and theology and religion is a degree that explores the lives and legacy of the Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, and Scandinavian peoples within a broad study of human activity, alongside a study of the Christian faith and doctrine in its historical, cross-cultural, and contemporary contexts. These two disciplines are deeply intertwined in the British Isles: the Christianisation of the Celtic and Anglo-Saxon peoples, the monastic cultures of early medieval Scotland and Ireland, and the Norse impact on religion and culture in the north all form part of a shared intellectual heritage that shaped medieval and early modern Britain.

At the University of Aberdeen, this four-year full-time programme develops your understanding of Celtic and Old English languages and literatures, the archaeology and material culture of early medieval peoples, and the history of their societies, alongside theology and religious studies that engage with scripture, doctrine, comparative religion, and the relationship between faith and culture. A year abroad is built into the programme, giving you the experience of studying in a different scholarly context. Entry typically requires around 168 UCAS tariff points.

Graduates of this combination work in higher education research, museums and heritage, archives, publishing, religious and faith community roles, teaching, journalism, and the many fields in which deep cultural and historical knowledge is valued. The combination of languages, literary skills, historical understanding, and theological engagement is unusual and makes graduates distinctive in any environment that values close engagement with textual and cultural heritage. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in Celtic studies, medieval history, theology, or religious studies.