Celtic Civilisation/Central & East European Studies

Celtic civilisation and Central and East European studies are disciplines united by a commitment to understanding cultures and histories that are often marginalised in mainstream European narratives. Celtic civilisation takes you into the history, societies, literature, art, and religion of Celtic peoples from their earliest traces on the European continent through to the contemporary British Isles and beyond. Central and East European studies opens a different but equally rich region, examining the histories, politics, cultures, and languages of countries from Poland and the Czech Republic to Hungary, the Balkans, and the former Soviet space.

At the University of Glasgow, this four-year full-time programme allows you to bring these two areas of scholarship into productive dialogue. On the Celtic side you will engage with archaeological evidence, medieval manuscripts, oral tradition, and the modern revival of Celtic languages and culture, developing skills in historical analysis and cultural interpretation. On the Central and East European side you will study the history and politics of the region, its literary and cultural production, and the dynamics of transition, identity, and geopolitics that continue to shape it.

A year abroad is part of the programme, placing you in direct contact with one of these cultural regions and deepening your understanding in ways that reading and seminar discussion alone cannot achieve.

Graduates pursue careers in academia, heritage, public policy, journalism, international relations, and cultural organisations. Both areas of study develop transferable skills in critical analysis, cross-cultural understanding, and research that are valued across the public sector, the media, and international bodies. Postgraduate study in Celtic studies, European studies, history, and area studies is a natural progression for those who wish to develop their expertise further or pursue research careers.