Gaelic Studies and Language & Linguistics

Gaelic studies and linguistics together address the study of language from two complementary angles. Gaelic studies focuses on Scotland's oldest surviving language, its literature, history, and cultural significance, giving you access to a tradition that is intimately connected with the history and identity of the Scottish Highlands and Islands. Linguistics takes a broader, scientific view, investigating how human language works, how languages are acquired, how they change over time, and how they differ from one another.

Together, they develop both the specific cultural knowledge of the Gaelic tradition and the general intellectual tools to understand language as a human phenomenon.

At the University of Aberdeen, this four-year full-time degree is available to students regardless of whether they are native Gaelic speakers or complete beginners, making it accessible to anyone with a genuine interest in the language and its cultural world. You will engage with Gaelic literature, history, and culture in depth, while the linguistics component develops your understanding of how languages evolve, how they are structured, and how they are learned. A year abroad is integrated into the programme, giving you the opportunity to encounter other linguistic and cultural environments.

The typical entry tariff is 168 points.

Graduates from Gaelic studies and linguistics programmes pursue careers in translation, broadcasting, education, community development, heritage, policy, and research. Gaelic media, Gaelic education, and the organisations supporting Gaelic language development in Scotland provide specific professional destinations for those with expertise in the language. The linguistics training adds further options in speech and language therapy, language education, computational linguistics, and applied linguistics.

Postgraduate study in Gaelic, linguistics, Celtic studies, or language education is a natural continuation.