Celtic Civilisation/Classics

Celtic civilisation and Classics is a joint degree that places two ancient traditions in conversation with each other, allowing you to move between the Celtic world, whose languages and cultures span the British Isles and continental Europe from earliest times to the present, and the Graeco-Roman world that formed the foundation of Western European intellectual and political life. Both fields reward the close reading of primary sources, attentiveness to historical context, and willingness to engage with cultures that are in some ways profoundly different from our own.

At the University of Glasgow this programme is offered part-time and includes a year abroad. Celtic Civilisation, as Glasgow's own description puts it, immerses you in the history of the Celts, the development of their societies, their literature, material culture, art and religion, from earliest times on the European continent to the present-day British Isles. Alongside this you will study Classics, engaging with the texts, history, philosophy, art and archaeology of ancient Greece and Rome.

Glasgow is one of the leading institutions in the UK for Celtic studies, with staff whose research spans early Irish and Scottish Gaelic literature, medieval Welsh, Pictish history and the broader Celtic-speaking world, and your study will be shaped by that depth of expertise.

The disciplines share an emphasis on the close analysis of texts and material evidence, the reconstruction of past societies from fragmentary sources, and the understanding of how ancient and medieval cultures have been interpreted and misinterpreted in later periods.

Graduates pursue careers in academia, heritage and museum work, publishing, teaching, archive and library management, and cultural organisations. The degree develops strong skills in research, critical analysis and the handling of complex sources that are valued in many professional contexts. Postgraduate study in Celtic studies, Classics, medieval history or related fields is a natural continuation for those who want to deepen their expertise.