Hanes a Hanes Cymru
Hanes a Hanes Cymru, which translates as History and Welsh History, is a degree that combines the broad sweep of historical study with a particular focus on the history of Wales. It is a pairing that allows you to develop general historical skills and knowledge while also engaging deeply with the history of a nation that has often been marginalised in broader historical narratives, despite its distinctive and significant contribution to British and world history. Welsh history encompasses Celtic and medieval heritage, the development of the Welsh language as a vehicle of culture and identity, industrialisation and the coal and steel industries, nonconformist religion, the labour movement, and the evolving constitutional relationship between Wales and England.
At Prifysgol Aberystwyth, which occupies a central place in Welsh language education and Welsh cultural life, this three-year degree is taught in Welsh, giving you a rich bilingual academic experience. You will develop your historical skills in research, source analysis, and academic writing across both Welsh and general history, engaging with primary sources in Welsh and English and with the scholarship that has shaped both fields. Aberystwyth's location and its institutional commitment to Welsh medium education make it an ideal setting for this kind of study, and the library and archival resources available there for Welsh history are exceptional.
Graduates pursue careers in archives, libraries, and record offices with significant Welsh language and historical holdings. Heritage organisations including Cadw and the National Library of Wales provide employment for Welsh-language historians. Teaching Welsh and history in Welsh-medium and bilingual schools in Wales is a well-established pathway for graduates who proceed to teacher training.
Broadcasting in Welsh, particularly with S4C and BBC Wales, draws graduates with Welsh language skills and cultural knowledge. Academic research in Welsh history, history, or Celtic studies draws those who continue to postgraduate study, and roles in the civil service and cultural organisations in Wales round out the range of career possibilities.