Archaeology/Celtic Studies

Archaeology and Celtic studies is a combination that makes particular sense in a Scottish context. Archaeology is the study of how people in the past interacted with their world, reconstructing lives, societies, and events through the material evidence they left behind: objects, structures, landscapes, and environmental remains. Celtic studies examines the languages, literatures, histories, and cultures of the Celtic-speaking peoples, whose presence in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and Brittany extends back thousands of years and whose artistic and literary traditions are among the richest in early medieval Europe.

Together these disciplines give you access to the deep history of the North Atlantic world through both its physical remains and its textual and linguistic legacy.

At the University of Glasgow, this four-year full-time programme develops expertise in both archaeology and Celtic studies, drawing on Glasgow's significant strengths in Scottish, Irish, and early medieval research. You will learn archaeological methods, from excavation and fieldwork to the analysis of material culture and environmental evidence, alongside the languages and literatures of Celtic traditions. The programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study at a partner institution and to engage with international perspectives on the Celtic world and its archaeology.

The typical entry tariff of 200 points reflects the academic rigour of the programme.

Graduates pursue careers in heritage management, museum curation, archaeological fieldwork, historic environment consultancy, education, and the cultural sector. The Celtic studies dimension opens additional pathways in Celtic language promotion, cultural heritage organisations, and academic research in early medieval studies. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in archaeology, Celtic studies, medieval history, or related disciplines, and the combination of language skills and archaeological method is distinctive in the competitive academic job market.