Welsh and Philosophy

Welsh and philosophy is a degree that brings together two intellectual traditions which, despite their apparent differences in method, share a commitment to precision, depth, and the careful examination of ideas. Welsh is one of the oldest living languages in Europe, with a literary tradition that stretches back over fifteen hundred years, and it is today a living, growing language spoken by over half a million people in Wales and by communities elsewhere in the UK and in Patagonia in Argentina. Philosophy is the discipline of fundamental questions, concerned with the nature of reality, the grounds of knowledge, what we owe to each other, and what makes a good life and a just society.

At Cardiff University, the capital of Wales and the leading Welsh university, this three-year full-time programme gives you the opportunity to study both subjects in an environment that takes Welsh language and culture seriously as living realities rather than simply as historical artefacts. Cardiff's Welsh department offers teaching in and about the Welsh language, with routes suitable for both fluent Welsh speakers and those developing their language skills. The philosophy department has strong research across both analytic and continental traditions, and the degree is designed to develop rigorous analytical thinking alongside literary and linguistic competence.

You will develop your Welsh language ability, study Welsh literature from the medieval period through to contemporary writing in poetry, prose, and drama, and engage with philosophy across the main areas of the discipline, including epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and political philosophy. The combination is particularly valuable for those who want to engage deeply with Welsh culture while developing the critical faculties that philosophy uniquely trains.

Graduates of Welsh and philosophy programmes move into careers in education, the Welsh public sector, broadcasting and journalism, translation, cultural organisations, academic research, and the many fields where rigorous thinking and clear communication are valued assets.