Celtic & Anglo-Saxon Studies and Gaelic Studies

Celtic and Anglo-Saxon studies and Gaelic studies is a combination that takes you to the very roots of the languages, cultures, and identities of the British Isles and the wider North Atlantic world. Celtic and Anglo-Saxon studies examines the peoples, languages, and literary traditions of early medieval Britain and Ireland, from the Old English poetry of the Beowulf manuscript and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle to the great vernacular Irish and Welsh literary traditions. Gaelic studies focuses specifically on the Scottish Gaelic language and its literature, from its Celtic origins to its contemporary role as Scotland's oldest living language, exploring both the linguistic structures of Gaelic and the rich cultural heritage it carries.

At Aberdeen this four-year MA (Hons) programme allows you to develop deep knowledge of these interconnected traditions. You will study the history, language, and culture of the Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, and Scandinavian peoples, examining how they interacted across the centuries and the literary, religious, and political legacies they left behind. Gaelic is studied both as a living language, developing your practical proficiency, and as a vehicle of a distinctive literary and intellectual tradition.

A year abroad is embedded in the programme, giving you the opportunity to engage with these traditions from an international perspective.

The degree develops sophisticated linguistic, historical, and textual skills alongside a deep sense of Scotland's cultural heritage and its place in the wider story of the North Atlantic world.

Graduates move into careers in heritage management, Gaelic education and broadcasting, museum and archive work, community language development, creative writing, journalism, and the cultural sector. The degree is particularly relevant to careers with a Scottish or Gaelic dimension. Many graduates also go on to postgraduate study in Celtic studies, medieval literature, or linguistics.