Gaelic and Education

Gaelic and education is a combination with a clear and important purpose: supporting the survival, transmission, and growth of Scottish Gaelic as a living language. Gaelic is spoken by a relatively small community in Scotland, concentrated in the Western Isles and other parts of the Highlands, but it is a language of great antiquity and cultural richness, with a literary tradition, musical heritage, and community life that are inseparable from Scottish cultural identity. Gaelic-medium education is growing in Scotland, and the demand for qualified teachers who can teach through the medium of Gaelic is significant and consistent.

At the University of the Highlands and Islands you will study Gaelic language and literature alongside education theory and professional preparation. Gaelic study will develop your linguistic proficiency and your engagement with Gaelic literature, song, culture, and history, as well as with the sociolinguistic context in which Gaelic is spoken and taught today. Education study will introduce you to child development, learning theory, curriculum frameworks, and the professional knowledge and skills that teaching requires.

The four-year programme combines academic study with industry experience, giving you the practical exposure to educational settings that developing as a teacher demands.

Graduates are well placed for careers in Gaelic-medium education at primary and secondary level, in community Gaelic learning and development, in Gaelic broadcasting and media, and in cultural organisations concerned with the language. The Scottish Government's commitment to growing the number of Gaelic speakers and expanding Gaelic-medium education means that professionally qualified Gaelic educators are in consistent demand. Further teacher training qualifications are also a route for many graduates.