Gaelic

Scottish Gaelic is one of the Celtic languages of the Goidelic branch, spoken in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland for over a millennium and still a living language with a distinctive literary, musical, and cultural tradition. Studying Gaelic to degree level is both a linguistic endeavour and a cultural one: you will develop fluency in a language that carries a rich heritage of oral literature, song, and poetry, while also engaging with the history, politics, and contemporary challenges of a minority language community in the modern world. Gaelic matters not just as a heritage subject but as a living medium of communication, and there is growing demand for Gaelic-competent professionals across education, broadcasting, public services, and the arts.

At the University of Glasgow, this four-year, full-time programme takes you through the language from its early literary forms to contemporary Gaelic in use today. You will develop your reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills, engage with classical and modern Gaelic texts, and explore the culture, history, and society of Gaelic-speaking communities across the centuries and into the present. The programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study in another Gaelic or Celtic language environment, broadening your linguistic and cultural horizons and deepening your engagement with related traditions.

Graduates with fluency and expertise in Scottish Gaelic are sought after in Gaelic medium education, where there is a recognised shortage of qualified teachers. Broadcasting, particularly with organisations such as BBC Alba, journalism, arts administration, translation and interpretation, and community development in Gaelic-speaking areas also provide career pathways. Public bodies with statutory Gaelic language obligations are increasingly seeking graduates who can work professionally through the medium of Gaelic.

Postgraduate study in Celtic languages, linguistics, education, or Scottish studies is a natural continuation for those who wish to pursue research or specialist roles.