Celtic and Gaelic

Entry requirements

Our regular standard of admission is at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree (2:1), although candidates will usually also have completed or be undertaking a Masters qualification.

Research proposal

Candidates are required to provide an outline of the proposed research subject in about 1000 words. This need not be a final thesis proposal but should include:

• a straightforward, descriptive, and informative title
• the question that your research will address
• an account of why this question is important and worth investigating
• an assessment of how your own research will engage with recent study in the subject
• a brief account of the methodology and approach you will take
• a discussion of the primary sources that your research will draw upon, including printed books, manuscripts, archives, libraries, or museums
• an indicative bibliography of secondary sources that you have already consulted and/or are planning to consult

Your application, including your references and research proposal, will be passed to members of staff whose expertise and research interests most closely match the area of your proposed study.

Months of entry

Anytime

Course content

Whether you are interested in literature, language, history or culture, we provide a supportive environment for postgraduate research.

We offer courses and supervision in a range of subject areas related to the research activities and interests of academic staff.

We were rated in the top 10 result for Celtic & Gaelic (overall and for outputs) in the recent research assessment exercise (REF 2014)

Topics in which we would welcome postgraduate research include:

• modern and medieval Celtic languages
• literature and cultures, especially modern Scottish Gaelic and Irish language and linguistics
• modern Scottish Gaelic literature, 18th–21st centuries
• Gaelic linguistics
• medieval Celtic literatures, early Gaelic / early Irish, Middle Welsh
• textual cultures of the medieval Celtic-speaking areas
• medieval Celtic art
• Celtic place names of Scotland.

Interdisciplinary context

We are well placed to provide an appropriate environment for cross- and interdisciplinary research. Staff and students benefit from collaboration and interaction in research and teaching with members of other subject areas such as Archaeology, Scottish History and English Language. We are committed to creating and sustaining an open and involved research environment, and are one of the core subject areas of the Centre for Scottish and Celtic Studies. We also participate in the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies.

Information for international students

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

• 7.0 with no sub-test under 7.0.
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.