Gaelic/Social & Public Policy

Gaelic and social and public policy is a combination that brings together the study of Scotland's living minority language and cultural tradition with the analytical frameworks needed to understand how social problems are addressed through policy. Gaelic connects you to a language that has been spoken in Scotland for more than fifteen centuries, to a rich oral and literary culture, and to communities and landscapes that carry distinctive histories and identities. Social and public policy examines how governments and public institutions tackle collective challenges, from health, education, and welfare to housing, inequality, and cultural sustainability.

At the University of Glasgow, you will explore Scottish Gaelic language and culture through the centuries to the present day, developing your Gaelic language skills for contemporary use while also engaging with the cultural, literary, and social dimensions of Gaelic Scotland. The social and public policy strand develops your understanding of welfare policy, comparative public administration, the politics of policy-making, and the evaluation of social programmes. The combination is particularly coherent when it comes to the policy challenges facing Gaelic-speaking communities, including language planning, cultural funding, community development, and the balance between preservation and adaptation.

The programme is offered part time and includes a year abroad. It is well suited to students who already have some connection to Gaelic culture or who are based in communities where the language is part of daily life.

Graduates go on to careers in the civil service, local government, community development, arts and culture organisations, education, language planning, and social research. Further study options include postgraduate degrees in Scottish studies, Celtic languages, public policy, and social research.