Celtic Civilisation/Social & Public Policy

Celtic civilisation and social and public policy is a combination that brings together the deep cultural history of the Celtic peoples with a rigorous understanding of how modern societies are governed and how policy shapes social outcomes. Studying Celtic civilisation immerses you in the history of the Celts, the development of their societies, their literature, material culture, art, and religion, from the earliest times on the European continent to the present-day British Isles. Social and public policy addresses the contemporary world, examining how governments design and implement policies on health, education, welfare, housing, and equality, and how those policies affect the lives of citizens.

At the University of Glasgow, this part-time programme develops your historical and cultural knowledge of Celtic civilisation alongside analytical and research skills in social and public policy. You will engage with Celtic languages, literature, and material culture while also studying the theoretical frameworks and empirical methods of social policy analysis. A year abroad is built into the programme, giving you the experience of studying in a different cultural or policy context.

The combination is particularly relevant to careers in Scotland and Ireland, where Celtic heritage intersects with contemporary policy debates about culture, identity, and governance.

Graduates work in government, the civil service, the third sector, cultural organisations, community development, research, journalism, and a wide range of roles that require both cultural knowledge and social policy understanding. The depth of historical and cultural learning alongside policy analytical skills makes graduates particularly distinctive in roles at the intersection of heritage, identity, and public administration.