Gaelic/French

Scottish Gaelic and French is a combination that unites one of the oldest living Celtic languages with one of the world's most widely spoken Romance languages, reflecting a breadth of linguistic engagement that is genuinely unusual. Gaelic is an ancient language with roots in early medieval Ireland, carried to Scotland where it gave its name to the kingdom and the country. Today it is spoken by a small but vital community in the Western Isles, the Highlands and urban centres, and supported by a growing media sector including BBC Alba, Gaelic-medium education and a lively music tradition.

French is the language of France, of much of sub-Saharan Africa, of Quebec and the Caribbean, and of key international institutions including the European Union and the United Nations.

At the University of Glasgow, the five-year full-time MA programme develops your proficiency in both languages to a high level, while also exploring Scottish Gaelic culture through the centuries, its literature, history, identity politics and contemporary revival. The French strand develops your language skills alongside engagement with French literature, film and culture. The degree includes a sandwich year and a work placement, giving you the opportunity to gain professional experience in a Gaelic or French language professional context.

This combination is particularly relevant for careers in Scotland's public services, broadcasting, Gaelic-medium education and the heritage sector, where Gaelic skills are valued and sometimes required. French adds a broader international dimension.

Graduates work in Gaelic education, broadcasting, arts and cultural organisations, heritage, translation and the civil service, as well as in French language teaching, translation, international organisations and European affairs. Postgraduate study in Gaelic studies, Celtic languages, French literature or linguistics is a natural continuation.