Gaelic/Scottish History

Gaelic and Scottish history is a degree that brings together the living language tradition of Scottish Gaelic and the historical scholarship that examines Scotland's development as a nation across centuries. Gaelic is one of the oldest languages of the British Isles, with a literary, oral, and musical tradition of great richness, and it remains a living language in communities across the Highlands, Islands, and urban Scotland, sustained by a growing cultural infrastructure of broadcasting, publishing, and education. Scottish history provides the broader framework within which Gaelic culture can be understood, examining the political, religious, economic, and social forces that have shaped Scotland from the medieval period to the present.

At the University of Glasgow, this four-year full-time programme develops both your Gaelic language skills and your knowledge of Scottish history with genuine depth. You will explore Scottish Gaelic language and culture through the centuries to the present day, developing your language skills for contemporary professional opportunities, as the university describes in both English and Gaelic on the course page. You will also engage with the full range of Scottish historical scholarship, from the medieval and early modern periods through to modern political and cultural history.

A year abroad is built into the programme, giving you the opportunity to study at an international partner institution and broaden your academic and personal perspectives.

Graduates from this programme go on to careers in Gaelic broadcasting, journalism, publishing, education, community development, and cultural organisations. The combination of historical knowledge and Gaelic language skills is particularly valuable in heritage and archival work, in the BBC and MG Alba, in local authorities with Gaelic-speaking communities, and in the Scottish Government's Gaelic policy and education work. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in Gaelic, Scottish studies, or history, developing their expertise for academic or specialist professional roles.