English Literature/Gaelic

English literature and Scottish Gaelic is an unusual and intellectually rewarding combination that connects two linguistic and literary traditions with deep roots in Scotland and the British Isles. English literature spans more than six centuries of poetry, drama, fiction, and non-fiction, and its study develops the capacity for close reading, critical analysis, and sustained argument that is among the most transferable that any degree provides. Gaelic is one of the oldest living languages in Europe, and its literary tradition, particularly in poetry and song, is one of extraordinary richness, spanning from the medieval period to contemporary writers who are among the most distinctive voices in Scottish culture.

At Glasgow, you will explore all aspects of literature in English from early modern to postmodern, benefiting from expertise in American, Irish, and postcolonial literatures, critical theory, creative writing, and the relationship between literature and other arts, media, and science. Alongside this, you will study Scottish Gaelic language and engage with the Gaelic literary tradition, developing both linguistic competency and cultural knowledge of a minority language that is central to Scottish cultural heritage. The programme includes a year abroad and is studied part-time, making it accessible to those managing other commitments.

Graduates of English literature and Gaelic programmes pursue careers in education, including the growing Gaelic-medium education sector, as well as in journalism, publishing, broadcasting, arts administration, heritage, and cultural policy. The combination of major and minority language skills is particularly valued in organisations concerned with bilingual education, translation, media in minority languages, and cultural preservation. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in literature, Celtic studies, or linguistics, where the breadth and rarity of their language combination is a genuine academic asset.