Celtic Studies/History

Celtic studies and history is a combination that brings together two disciplines deeply concerned with understanding the past, but through different windows. Celtic studies immerses you in the history and cultures of the Celtic peoples from their earliest presence on the European continent to the present-day Celtic nations of Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Cornwall, and Brittany, examining their languages, literature, material culture, art, and religion across more than two thousand years. History, as a discipline, develops skills in the analysis of evidence, the construction of argument, and the understanding of change over time across all periods and geographies.

At the University of Glasgow this part-time programme benefits from one of the leading Celtic studies departments in the world, with deep expertise in Gaelic, Welsh, Breton, and the broader Celtic traditions alongside a history faculty of international standing. You will engage with both disciplines in genuine depth, studying primary sources from the Celtic world alongside the methods and approaches of historical scholarship. The programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to encounter Celtic cultures or historical study in an international setting.

Graduates from Celtic studies and history programmes work in education, heritage, library and archive services, broadcasting, cultural organisations, journalism, and the civil service. The combination of specialist Celtic knowledge and historical analytical skills is valued in academic contexts and in organisations that engage with the cultural heritage of the Celtic nations. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in Celtic languages and literatures, Scottish or Irish studies, or history, developing specialist expertise for academic research or professional roles in heritage and culture.