Gaelic

Scottish Gaelic is one of the oldest living languages in Britain, with roots stretching back over fifteen centuries and a literary tradition of considerable richness that spans poetry, song, oral narrative and prose. It is the ancestral language of the Scottish Highlands and Islands, and its study opens a window onto a culture, a history and a way of understanding the world that differs profoundly from the anglophone mainstream. In recent decades, Gaelic has experienced a significant revival, with growing investment in media, education and community development that has created new professional contexts for speakers of the language.

At the University of Glasgow, this part-time programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to develop your language skills and cultural immersion in a Gaelic-speaking environment. You will explore Scottish Gaelic language and culture through the centuries, from the medieval literary tradition to the contemporary spoken and written language, developing competence in reading, writing, speaking and listening alongside your historical and cultural understanding. The programme addresses the language in its social and political context, examining how Gaelic has survived, changed and been revived through different periods of Scottish history.

Whether you are coming with existing Gaelic and wish to deepen your proficiency, or approaching the language with some prior exposure, the programme develops skills for the contemporary job market as well as scholarly understanding.

Graduates with Gaelic language skills are sought in education, broadcasting (particularly BBC Alba), community development, arts organisations, heritage bodies and local government. The cultural and linguistic expertise developed through this degree also suits careers in publishing, translation, creative writing, academia and cultural policy. Further study at postgraduate level in Celtic languages, Scottish studies or linguistics is available for those who wish to pursue research or specialist professional paths.