Gaelic

Gaelic is one of Scotland's historic indigenous languages, with roots going back many centuries and a living literary, musical, and cultural tradition that has shaped the identity of communities across the Highlands, Islands, and diaspora. Studying Gaelic at degree level is both a linguistic endeavour and a cultural one, involving engagement with the language's grammar and literature alongside the history, music, oral traditions, and community life associated with it. It is also an act of preservation and renewal: Gaelic is a minority language with a committed community of speakers and an active revitalisation effort supported by the Scottish Government and media organisations.

At the University of the Highlands and Islands, studying Gaelic part time allows you to engage with the subject at a sustainable pace, taking course units progressively and fitting your studies around other commitments. UHI's geography, with campuses and learning centres spread across the Highland and Island communities where Gaelic is most deeply rooted, means that your study takes place in genuine proximity to the language's living culture. You will develop language skills alongside study of Gaelic literature, history, and cultural expression, gaining both linguistic competence and contextual understanding.

Graduates with Gaelic language qualifications find careers in Gaelic-medium education, where demand for teachers significantly outstrips supply, as well as in BBC Alba and other Gaelic media organisations, community development, the arts, and cultural heritage. The Scottish Government's commitment to Gaelic revitalisation has created sustained public sector demand for Gaelic-competent professionals, and postgraduate study in Gaelic and Scottish studies, Celtic languages, or education provides a route to specialist or academic careers in the field.