Gaelic/Social & Public Policy

Scottish Gaelic is one of the oldest living languages in Europe, carrying within it a literary tradition and a way of understanding the world that has shaped the culture of the Highlands and Islands for well over a millennium. Studying Gaelic is not simply a matter of learning a language; it means engaging with a living cultural heritage, understanding how minority languages survive and adapt, and contributing to the communities in which Gaelic remains a working medium of life and expression. Social and Public Policy, meanwhile, addresses the structures through which governments and institutions respond to social needs, manage inequality, and make decisions that affect people's lives.

Together they form a degree that is both deeply rooted in Scottish culture and outward-looking in its approach to society.

At the University of Glasgow, this four-year full-time programme combines both disciplines, offering you the opportunity to develop real Gaelic language competence alongside a serious grounding in social policy analysis. You will study the grammar and spoken forms of Gaelic, engage with its literature and cultural history, and consider its position within contemporary Scotland and the wider politics of minority languages. Alongside this you will examine welfare systems, public services, inequality, and the theory and practice of policy-making, developing research skills and the ability to evaluate policy evidence critically.

The programme includes a year abroad, broadening your perspective through study at a partner institution overseas.

Graduates are particularly well placed for careers in Gaelic medium education, broadcasting, public administration, community development in Gaelic-speaking areas, policy analysis, and third-sector organisations working in language or culture. The degree also prepares you well for postgraduate study in Gaelic, Celtic studies, linguistics, or social policy.