Celtic Studies

Celtic studies is a field that offers access to some of the oldest literary and cultural traditions in Europe, as well as to the living languages and communities of the Celtic peoples of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, and the Isle of Man. The Celtic languages, including Scottish Gaelic, Irish, Welsh, Manx, Cornish, and Breton, are among the most ancient in Europe, and the literatures and oral traditions they carry contain medieval poetry, heroic narrative, lyric verse, and a philosophical and spiritual tradition of genuine historical significance.

At the University of Glasgow, this part-time programme provides the opportunity to combine language study with a range of courses on the medieval and modern Celtic cultures of the British Isles. You will develop your knowledge of one or more of the Celtic languages, engaging with literary texts and cultural material that span many centuries. The historical and contemporary dimensions of Celtic culture are both present: you will study medieval manuscripts alongside modern Gaelic poetry and the contemporary cultural and political contexts in which Celtic languages are spoken and promoted.

The programme includes a year abroad, which may involve study at an institution in a Celtic-speaking region, deepening your linguistic immersion and your engagement with living Celtic communities.

Graduates from Celtic studies programmes go on to careers in Celtic language promotion and education, broadcasting in Welsh or Gaelic, heritage organisations, publishing, research, and community development. Many progress to postgraduate study in Celtic languages and literatures, medieval studies, or related fields. The linguistic and cultural skills the degree develops also translate well into journalism, the civil service, and cultural policy roles where an understanding of minority language communities is valued.